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

In the absence of key economic data, decision-makers at the Fed have indeed been turning their attention to the Fed’s balance sheet. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025

Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi criticized the decision-makers who have permitted NCAA athletes to bet on professional sports. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025

The majority of fans and decision-makers at United want to believe in the Amorim project. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

The team works with designers, retailers and product developers and sourcing and merchandising teams — who are the fiber decision-makers. —Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025

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