decision-making

American

[dih-sizh-uhn-mey-king] / dɪˈsɪʒ ənˌmeɪ kɪŋ /

Or decision making or decisionmaking

noun

the act or process of making choices or decisions with a group of people, especially in business or politics (often used attributively).

decision-making skills.

Other Word Forms

decision-maker noun

Etymology

Origin of decision-making

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Institutions, shared values, and collective decision-making play a central role in shaping outcomes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

The “Moneyball” approach, detailed in a 2003 book, led to widespread adoption of data-driven decision-making across various industries, transcending sports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“The conflict in the Middle East was cited as a major source of uncertainty that complicated decision-making around hiring, pricing, and capital investment, with many firms adopting a wait-and-see posture,” the report said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

He said a note found in Calocane's bag on the day of the attacks, which had the names of other students he lived with previously, would also not have affected his decision-making.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

I asked to meet with the attorney general or whatever official had final decision-making authority, and he said that he would see what he could do.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023