decision

1 of 2

noun

de·​ci·​sion di-ˈsi-zhən 

1

a

: the act or process of deciding

the moment of decision has come

b

: a determination arrived at after consideration : conclusion

made the decision to attend graduate school

2

: a report of a conclusion

a 5-page decision

a Supreme Court decision

3

: promptness and firmness in deciding : determination

acting with decision

4

a

: win

specifically, combat sports : a victory based on points awarded

Former heavyweight champion kickboxer Sterling (Cash) McCallum took a unanimous decision over Cesar Rendon in an eight-round standard bout in Phoenix …

—New York Times

b

baseball : a win or loss officially credited to a pitcher

has five wins in eight decisions

decisional

di-ˈsi-zhnəl 

-ˈsi-zhə-nᵊl

adjective

decision

2 of 2

verb

decisioned; decisioning; decisions

transitive verb

combat sports

: to win by being awarded more points than (an opponent)

… he hasn't won an important fight since he decisioned Duran on Jan. 30, 1982.

—William Nack

Synonyms

Noun

• award
• call
• conclusion
• deliverance
• determination
• diagnosis
• judgment
• judgement
• opinion
• resolution
• verdict

Examples of decision in a Sentence

Noun

She announced her decision to go to medical school.

Have you made a decision?

He based his decision on facts, not emotions.

She made a conscious decision to leave the painting unfinished.

We need someone who will act with decision even under pressure.

The U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision brought an end to racial segregation in public schools.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The full ramifications of Trump’s decision, whether in the country’s urban centers or rural enclaves, won’t be fully absorbed for weeks or months. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025

The decision to run a five-man rotation before Shohei Ohtani’s return from a second elbow surgery essentially pits Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May against each other in their respective returns from injury. —Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025

Verb

How might that decision influence the fashion choices of the television and movie stars in attendance? —The Styles Desk, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025

The challenge for retailers is to balance providing enough options to meet diverse consumer needs without overwhelming them, which can lead to decision paralysis or abandonment of the purchase. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English decisioun, borrowed from Anglo-French decision "judgment" (Middle French also "act of deciding, coming to a definitive conclusion"), borrowed from Latin dēcīsiōn-, dēcīsio "curtailment, diminishment, settlement, agreement," from dēcīdere "to cut off, cut out, mark by cutting, settle, choose as a course of action" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at decide

Verb

derivative of decision entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing decision

• decision maker
• decision-making
• decision theory
• decision tree
• hand down a decision
• informed decision
• overturn the decision
• split decision
• split-second decision
• sub-decision
• take a decision
• uphold the decision

Kids Definition

decision

noun

de·​ci·​sion

di-ˈsizh-ən

1

: the act or result of deciding

the decision of the court

2

: promptness and firmness in deciding : determination

a leader of courage and decision

Legal Definition

decision

noun

de·​ci·​sion di-ˈsi-zhən 

: an authoritative determination (as a decree or judgment) made after consideration of facts or law

also : a report or document containing such a determination see also memorandum decision compare disposition, finding, holding, judgment, opinion, ruling, verdict

Note: A decision, while being an authoritative determination of a disputed issue, does not have to be a final determination closing the case. Some interlocutory decisions may be appealed.

decisional

-zhə-nəl 

adjective