deal-breaker

noun

deal-break·​er ˈdēl-ˌbrā-kər 

variants or less commonly deal breaker or dealbreaker

plural deal-breakers also deal breakers or dealbreakers

1

: someone or something that prevents a deal or arrangement from being reached or fulfilled

That's where the other key player, Tomas Kaberle, comes in. He was a deal-breaker a few weeks ago in a potential trade between the Flyers and Toronto, when Quinn would not substitute him for the injured Danny Markov.

—Tim Panaccio

Pay attention to any signs of a DIY fix or update. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but it's better to know now—when you can ask the seller about it—than after the deal is done.

—Matt Ellis

2

: a reason for rejecting someone or something

The display is disappointing but not necessarily a deal-breaker unless your job consists of editing photos and videos.

—Jason Cipriani

Overall, the biggest dealbreaker was the $290 price tag.

—Bianca Alba

Any number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.

—Liza Mundy

Examples of deal-breaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What are your own real estate must-haves — and deal-breakers? —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

For years, ordinary investors who wanted to trade digital currencies generally had to go to a crypto exchange, a potential deal-breaker for neophytes. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

Contributor Brad Bourque says that the only downside is a relatively low max DPI, though, that shouldn't be a deal-breaker for most users. —Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

In relationships, this typically indicates a deal-breaker of some sort, though the usage of the phrase is split. —Ella Cerón, Parents, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1