decision

American  

[dih-sizh-uhn] / dɪˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

1. the act or process of deciding; determination, as of a question or doubt, by making a judgment.

   They must make a decision between these two contestants.

2. the act of or need for making up one's mind.

   This is a difficult decision.

3. something that is decided; resolution.

   She made a poor decision when she dropped out of school.

4. a judgment, as one formally pronounced by a court.

   It is the decision of this court that the appeal is granted.

   Synonyms:

   decree, finding, verdict, ruling

5. the quality of being decided; firmness.

   He spoke with decision and calm authority.

6. the final score in any sport or contest.

   The decision was 5 to 4 in favor of the home team.

7. Boxing. the awarding of a victory in a match not decided by a knockout or technical knockout, usually through a vote of the referee and judges.

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verb (used with object)

1. Boxing. to win a victory over (one's opponent) by a point score rather than a knockout.

decision British  

/ dɪˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. a judgment, conclusion, or resolution reached or given; verdict

2. the act of making up one's mind

3. firmness of purpose or character; determination

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Other Word Forms

• decisional adjective
• nondecision noun
• predecision noun
• redecision noun
• subdecision noun

Etymology

Origin of decision

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English decisioun, from Middle French, from Latin dēcīsiōn-, stem of dēcīsiō “a cutting off,” equivalent to dēcīs(us) (past participle of dēcīdere “to cut off”; see decide) + -iō -ion

Explanation

To make a decision is to make up your mind about something. To act with decision is to proceed with determination, which might be a natural character trait. Decision originally comes from the Latin decidere ("determine"). You make decisions every day: what to wear, what to eat, how to spend your money, who to vote for, what movie to go to. A court judge makes a decision in a trial (and actually "hands down" or "announces" that decision). If judges make the decision in a boxing match, the winner wins "by decision." More loosely, decision can also refer to the outcome of any game or contest.

Example Sentences

Economists were divided heading into the BSP’s decision, with many seeing a case for a rate hike after inflation in March rose more quickly than expected.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Activists were critical of the decision to leave climate off the agenda.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

It was a decision taken to benefit Chelsea in the short term, but one also viewed as potentially aiding the club's long-term ambitions.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Ukpo and the Los Angeles Police Department got into a bitter war of words over the decision to withhold the autopsy findings from the public last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

However, the overwhelming majority of White Southern citizens, as well as leaders of all stripes—from political, to religious, to civic— continued to resist the Supreme Court’s Brown decision.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Related Words

• accord
• agreement
• arrangement
• choice
• compromise
• determination
• finding
• judgment
• opinion
• outcome
• resolution
• result
• ruling
• selection
• settlement
• verdict