policymaking

noun

pol·​i·​cy·​mak·​ing ˈpä-lə-sē-ˌmā-kiŋ 

variants or policy-making

: the act or practice of establishing policy

… Bloomberg described a world where cities, rather than nations, are the major players in both global competition and innovative policymaking …

—Rob Fischer

… leaked word … that all Iraq policymaking was being centralized at the White House …

—Michael Duffy et al.

—sometimes used before another noun

the policymaking process

The Fed's policymaking committee sets rates that serve as the benchmark for the interest rates charged on mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and certificates of deposit.

—Kevin G. Hall

The controller manages a state office of more than 1,400 workers and ensures tax dollars are efficiently and effectively spent. With a few exceptions, it is not a policymaking position.

—The East Bay Times (California)

Examples of policymaking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At first glance, such a system might seem like the ultimate solution, not only to governance inefficiencies but also to injustice and the uncertainty of unpredictable policymaking. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Sowing doubts on the integrity of vaccine policymaking could lead to fewer people getting routine vaccines, says Orenstein at Emory. —Pien Huang, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025

Yet, there are also political and economic reasons to oppose unilateral presidential policymaking. —Ryan Young, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2025

Project 2025, the conservative policy agenda produced by the Heritage Foundation, specifically calls for climate change to be systematically removed from government policymaking. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for policymaking

• aching
• baking
• braking
• breaking
• caking
• faking
• flaking
• making
• quaking
• raking
• shaking
• slaking