decision

noun

de·ci·sion | \ di-ˈsi-zhən

Definition of decision

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

4a : 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

decision

verb

decisioned; decisioning; decisions

Definition of decision (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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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

Signs that the Federal Reserve could be more cautious than previously anticipated with its 2019 interest-rate decisions have also sparked the recent rally, so analysts will be parsing the latest Fed meeting minutes later in the session. — David Hodari, WSJ, "U.S. Markets Open Higher as U.S.-China Trade Talks Wrap Up," 9 Jan. 2019 As more manufacturers hit the 200,000-car limit, the varying levels of available tax credits are bound to confuse buyers and complicate their decisions. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "The $7,500 Tax Credit for Buying an Electric Chevy Might Be Disappearing," 2 Jan. 2019 In a new interview with The Telegraph, Princess Eugenie discusses her decision to showcase her scar on her wedding day, and the impact her childhood surgery has had on her life. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Princess Eugenie Opens Up About the Scoliosis Operation She Had in Her Childhood," 23 Dec. 2018 My father, who supported my decision to cut off contact with my mother, was standing nearby. — Anonymous, Good Housekeeping, "I Had to Choose Between Safety and My Mother," 21 Dec. 2018 How did that knowledge help inform your decisions for each piece? — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "Martyn Lawrence Bullard's Corbett Lighting Collection Is Gorgeously Extravagant," 14 Nov. 2018 In the past year, district courts have made decisions on a wide array of policy areas including the ability for immigrants to seek asylum and, more recently, the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. — Li Zhou, Vox, "Trump has gotten 66 judges confirmed this year. In his second year, Obama had gotten 49.," 27 Dec. 2018 That’s a good enough estimate to provide governments with a useful tool for making decisions about protecting sites, according to the researchers. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Satellites watch over the graves of ancient steppe nomads," 26 Dec. 2018 The possibility of imminent danger, however small, poses a complex challenge for school administrators, who must sometimes make critical decisions within seconds. — John Woodrow Cox, The Seattle Times, "Numerous school lockdowns are traumatizing the nation’s children," 26 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The first period also included Scott Laughton decisioning Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy in a fight. — Sam Carchidi, Philly.com, "Radko Gudas injured as Flyers fall to Crawford, Blackhawks," 1 Nov. 2017 Chris Early of Don Juan Avila decisioned Seth Lyon of Niguel Hills and four other finalists to win bodyboarding. — Fred Swegles, Orange County Register, "Shorecliffs surfers win O.C. event at San Clemente pier," 28 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decision.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2019

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The first known use of decision was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for decision

decision

noun

English Language Learners Definition of decision

: a choice that you make about something after thinking about it : the result of deciding

: the ability to make choices quickly and confidently

: the particular end of a legal or official argument : a legal or official judgment

See the full definition for decision in the English Language Learners Dictionary

decision

noun

de·ci·sion | \ di-ˈsi-zhən

Kids Definition of decision

1 : the act or result of making a choice especially after careful thought “… I have come to a very important decision. These are the wrong sort of bees.”— A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

2 : the ability to make choices quickly and confidently She was a leader of courage and decision.

decision

noun

de·ci·sion | \ di-ˈsi-zhən

Legal Definition of decision

: 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.