say-so
Americannoun
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one's personal statement or assertion.
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final authority; directing influence.
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an authoritative statement.
noun
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an arbitrary assertion
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an authoritative decision
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the authority to make a final decision
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of say-so
First recorded in 1630–40; originally, one's mere word on a matter, as opposed to proof
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.
See Examples For:
Two years later, Mr. Novick lost his new job as a U.S. marshal after being put on a blacklist on the say-so of federal prosecutors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
As a result, neither DOJ’s statement, nor the still-unavailable OLC opinion, nor the say-so of the president, the attorney general, or the secretary of defense is the last word.
From Slate ● Nov. 24, 2025
“Now we have a seat at the table and some say-so in how this proceeds forward, which is a big step,” says Gill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
But in a 52-page decision, Liman said the plaintiffs did not prove they had sincere religious objections to being vaccinated, and instead offered only their "say-so" on the issue.
From Reuters ● Sep. 25, 2023
And the other was Mrs. Sidman, who I guess had determined that nothing more was going to happen to her at Camillo Junior High School without her say-so.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
"Who said?" asked Howland; "for I've more faith in some say-sos than in some others."
From Standish of Standish A story of the Pilgrims by Austin, Jane G. (Jane Goodwin)
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.
