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

The concept began with the original Jimmy Johnson Trade Value Chart in the 1990s and became the standard baseline until the 2000s, when analytics emerged and decision-makers began to question whether Johnson’s system was too front-loaded. —Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026

Rebellious characters can scare decision-makers. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026

These letters will demand that clubs declare who their key decision-makers are so that the IFR can establish a baseline for regulation. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026

The Heat’s top decision-makers would argue that playing for draft lottery odds is relying on luck. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 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