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

As seen in public charging, challenges of maintaining reliable operations, as reported by JD Power’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging study, while frustrating for passenger vehicle drivers, become a deal-breaker if replicated in a business-critical environment. —Charlie Jardine, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Criticizing or badmouthing previous employers is also a red flag with 62% of executives viewing badmouthing as a deal-breaker. —Eva Chan, Harvard Business Review, 9 Oct. 2024

There’s also no cord storage, which is annoying but not a deal-breaker. —Lizzy Briskin, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024

There’s a lot of pressure to jump in when interest rates drop, but a slightly higher rate isn’t always a deal-breaker. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1