Synonyms

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

Derived 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.

The pattern was especially clear in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that helps regulate thought, emotion, decision making, and behavior.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

“Our investigation revealed that Davis was heavily involved in the decision making process surrounding the allocations of these funds from the very beginning”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

“For younger or beginner investors, having parental visibility or approval can be helpful in guiding decision making and reinforcing good habits,” Tobin said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

The dispute underlines the ability of one or two countries to block EU decision making.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Amalgamation, centralized conflict resolution, decision making, economic redistribution, and kleptocratic religion don’t just develop automatically through a Rousseauesque social contract.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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