nondecision

noun

non·​de·​ci·​sion ˌnän-di-ˈsi-zhən 

1

: an inadequate decision : a statement or determination that is presented as a decision but that avoids or leaves unresolved the issue being considered

The Court promoted uncertainty … with its nondecision a year later …

—Alan Freeman

2

: failure to make a decision

… asked the board to second both motions so the board could vote and everyone could move on. It didn't happen. Frustrated with the nondecision, the 20 or so residents who attended for that issue left …

—Lenore T. Adkins

Examples of nondecision in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To emphasize her disgust with the court’s nondecision, Sotomayor penned a dissent, joined by Breyer, explaining why Alabama’s treatment of Arthur likely violates the Constitution. —Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 21 Feb. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 2