game-changer

American

[geym-cheyn-jer] / ˈgeɪmˌtʃeɪn dʒər /

Or game changer

noun

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

game-changing adjective

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.

How much of a game-changer will the new 'daylight' offside rule prove to be?

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The bill’s swing at more construction and cheaper housing is “far from a game-changer, but it is a move in the right direction,” Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi told Barron’s.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 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

"Our approach is a complete game-changer because now you can actually identify a mantle earthquake purely based on the waveforms of earthquakes," said Wang.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2026

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