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game-changer

American  
[geym-cheyn-jer] / ˈgeɪmˌtʃeɪn dʒər /
Or game changer

noun

  1. Sports. an athlete, play, etc., that suddenly changes the outcome of a game or contest.

  2. a person or thing that dramatically changes the course, strategy, character, etc., of something.

    Social media has been a real game-changer in the company’s marketing efforts.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of game-changer

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

Despite or because of the crass, disrespectful language, conservative influencers are raving about the video as a game-changer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

More places to sock away fuels “could be a game-changer for Asian countries.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

And that, said Orouji, was a game-changer for at least some of the women choosing to seek asylum.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

What seemed a bureaucratic adjustment was in fact a strategic game-changer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

VPNs can be a game-changer for sports fans looking to stream live sports matches.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

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