say-so

noun

Synonyms of say-sonext
1
a
: one's unsupported assertion or assurance
b
: an authoritative pronouncement
left the hospital on the say-so of his doctor
2
: a right of final decision : say
has the ultimate say-so on what will be taught

Examples of say-so in a Sentence

some of the members complained they didn't have any say-so in how the organization spent its funds
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.
This alarms Western and Israeli intelligence agencies, and nothing in the current framework beyond Iran’s say-so meaningfully constrains its path to a weapons-grade threshold. Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 All based on little more than its current say-so, one at odds with its own regulatory actions. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 18 June 2026 No one is unjustly denied health care or a property insurance claim on the final say-so of AI review. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026 Approved projects could then be built without the city council’s say-so. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 24 Oct. 2025 None are likely to drop everything and come back home, just on Trump’s say-so. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2025 At his say-so, a series of military vehicles rolls slowly down the overgrown Seattle streets, followed by a small army of armed soldiers. EW.com, 28 Apr. 2025 The Blooms kept a small portion of the business but did not have any say-so in the business’s operations. Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2025 In most Florida counties, property owners whose land is unincorporated but abuts a city can petition to enter the city boundaries without county government having a say-so. Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of say-so was in 1637

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Say-so.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/say-so. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

say-so

noun
ˈsā-ˌsȯ
1
a
: one's unsupported word
b
: a judgment coming from a person of authority
2
: a right of last decision : authority
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