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Synonyms

decision

American  
[dih-sizh-uhn] / dɪˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

  1. the act or process of deciding; 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; 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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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”; decide ) + -iō -ion

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.

Strickland later told Boyd in a recorded call that the decision was made to “clear you.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Toulon survived a late TMO decision to beat Stormers and make the quarter-finals with a 28-27 victory.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

But those details, while significant, were quickly overshadowed by the visual: the sense that once the decision was made, there was no effort to preserve the image of continuity.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Your other decision relates to when to take Social Security.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Sad as it was, most of the public agreed with the decision.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.