decision-maker

noun

de·​ci·​sion-mak·​er di-ˈsi-zhən-ˌmā-kər 

variants or less commonly decision maker

plural decision-makers also decision makers

: someone who is known or primarily responsible for making decisions

a good decision-maker

one of the company's key/top decision makers

However, this does not permit corrections personnel or a warden to automatically assume the role of the patient's medical decision-maker.

—Erik Larsen and Katherine Drabiak

Examples of decision-maker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the lack of accurate data available to decision-makers to educate themselves was itself what provided the opportunity for VICE to flourish. — Sam Peskin, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

The quarterback had been an excellent decision-maker in high school, but the former NFL coach wanted to drill home that the margin for error was about to shrink. — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026

While 87% of senior business decision-makers encourage AI agent use, only 47% have clear governance, oversight and controls in place. — Jaime Meritt, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

And for a Brooklyn offense that too often looked like five players waiting for somebody to make something happen, another capable decision-maker was a welcome addition. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for decision-maker

• policymaker
• automaker
• boilermaker
• cabinetmaker
• coffeemaker
• troublemaker
• undertaker
• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker