decision-maker

noun

de·​ci·​sion-mak·​er di-ˈsi-zhən-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce decision-maker (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Supreme Court may have ruled that Trump himself is immune from prosecution for official actions, but the same is not true of hundreds of thousands of lower-level decision-makers throughout the federal bureaucracy. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2025 In business corporations, officers often are the primary deciders, but in HOAs boards are the primary decision-maker. Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 1 Aug. 2025 Buday moved up to No. 12 in the promotion’s rankings with the win and ran his record to 16-2 overall and 7-1 with the UFC, but the decision-makers still went another direction. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025 China’s decision-makers thus have little interest in endorsing U.S. and European positions on the war and sacrificing its relationship with Russia even if doing so would help soothe tensions with Europe. Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for decision-maker

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decision-maker was in 1887

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Cite this Entry

“Decision-maker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decision-maker. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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