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.

County firefighting commanders’ decision-making during the Eaton fire and concluded evacuation alerts were handled properly, even as residents say they were left in the dark.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

“Because policymaking and decision-making in America are afflicted by a kind of institutional instability, we witness frequent changes in positions,” he said, according to state media.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

It cited a senior US official as saying there are still details "to work out," and the "slow and opaque" nature of Iran's decision-making system could delay an agreement by another few days.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

Videogames, with their virtual worlds and continuous decision-making, were one promising avenue.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

Their poor decision-making had tethered Felix Rannells to Benji Porter for the entire day.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

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