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.

This region connects to the prefrontal cortex, forming a thalamocortical circuit that supports decision-making and executive control.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Since then, investors have learned enough about Trump’s decision-making to disregard the chatter.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Fewer than half of respondents believe that the introduction of referees announcing their decisions over the in-stadium speaker system is an improvement, and most do not believe the announcements make the decision-making process any clearer.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

“While it does not make the lethal decision-making for selecting and approving targets, Palantir’s Maven system assists the US military operators with making more informed decisions for military operations,” wrote Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Professionals encourage and support environments that produce trust by demonstrating integrity through ethical and inclusive decision-making.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

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