split decision

noun

: a decision in a boxing match reflecting a division of opinion among the referee and judges

Examples of split decision in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Miller, bald except for a minuscule friar’s ring of fuzz, won in a split decision. Matt Moret, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026 Julio Cesar Chavez suffers his first loss in 91 fights when Frankie Randall knocks him down in the 11th round and wins the WBC super lightweight championship on a split decision. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026 Since that loss, Oliveira is 2-3, beating Beneil Dariush by TKO in June 2023, losing to Arman Tsarukyan via split decision in April of this year and then defeating Chandler in November 2024. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 The court in a split decision approved Trump’s firing of Slaughter for now and will revisit its 90-year-old precedent protecting independent agency leaders from being fired at will. Jared Gans, The Hill, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for split decision

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of split decision was in 1952

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Cite this Entry

“Split decision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/split%20decision. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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