resolution

American  

[rez-uh-loo-shuhn] / ˌrɛz əˈlu ʃən /

noun

• resolutions
  plural

1. 

   a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.

2. the act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, etc.

3. a resolve; a decision or determination.

   to make a firm resolution to do something.

   Her resolution to clear her parents' name allowed her no other focus in life.

4. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

   She showed her resolution by not attending the meeting.

   Synonyms:

   fortitude, strength, tenacity, perseverance, determination, resolve

5. the act or process of resolving or separating something into constituent or elementary parts.

6. the resulting state.

7. Optics. the act, process, or capability of distinguishing between two separate but adjacent objects or sources of light or between two nearly equal wavelengths.

8. a solution, accommodation, or settling of a problem, controversy, etc.

9. Music.

   1. the progression of a voice part or of the harmony as a whole from a dissonance to a consonance.

   2. the tone or chord to which a dissonance is resolved.

10. reduction to a simpler form; conversion.

11. Medicine/Medical. the reduction or disappearance of a swelling or inflammation without suppuration.

12. the degree of sharpness of a computer-generated image as measured by the number of dots per linear inch in a hard-copy printout or the number of pixels across and down on a display screen.

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resolution British  

/ ˌrɛzəˈluːʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of resolving

2. the condition or quality of being resolute; firmness or determination

3. something resolved or determined; decision

4. a formal expression of opinion by a meeting, esp one agreed by a vote

5. a judicial decision on some matter; verdict; judgment

6. the act or process of separating something into its constituent parts or elements

7. med

   1. return from a pathological to a normal condition

   2. subsidence of the symptoms of a disease, esp the disappearance of inflammation without the formation of pus

8. music the process in harmony whereby a dissonant note or chord is followed by a consonant one

9. the ability of a television or film image to reproduce fine detail

10. physics another word for resolving power

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonresolution
  noun
• preresolution
  noun
• resolutioner
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• resolutions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of resolution

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin resolūtiōn-, stem of resolūtiō “looseness, a release” equivalent to resolute + -ion

Explanation

The noun resolution has a few related meanings having to do with being firmly determined about something. If you lack determination, you'll never fulfill your New Year's resolutions. Resolution is the noun form of the verb resolve, derived from the Latin resolvere, "to loosen, undo, settle." We can still see this meaning of resolution in the sense of "an explanation" or "a solution" — when a problem, conflict, or mystery reaches its resolution, it has been "undone," so to speak. If you approach a task with resolution, you do it with determination. And if you make a resolution, you make a firm decision to do something or meet some goal.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resolution resolutions

According to Yorgason, those interactions may help explain why shared physical activity was associated with healthier communication and better conflict resolution.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

The resolution was brought forward by 37 European countries, plus Canada and Chile.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

The additional resources will allow the team to build simulations with even greater resolution and more complete physical models.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026

"Finally, I want to repeat the Chief Constable's appeal for calm and for all parties to refocus efforts on working to find a lasting resolution to this issue."

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

I’m about to tell Pua about my resolution to use my gift the right way when Leo boards the bus.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

The law requires resolutions meant to end a declared emergency to be considered within 15 days.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

This also may help stocks linked to the ACA tax-credit extension as the proposals could be folded into negotiations over the budget and continuing resolutions.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

Nearly 100 health, business, science and environmental groups are now urging Congress to reject the resolutions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Community resolutions, normally used for minor offences or incidents of antisocial behaviour, aim to address the issues without more formal legal proceedings.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

The assembly met almost every month for a year, and we passed nine resolutions.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

Related Words

• conclusion
• decision
• finding
• motion
• outcome
• proposal
• proposition
• recommendation
• settlement
• solution
• verdict