deciding factor
noun
1
: something that causes someone to make a particular decision
The deciding factor was cost.
His lack of experience was the deciding factor in my decision not to hire him.
2
: something that causes something to end a particular way
His home run was the deciding factor in the game.
Examples of deciding factor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The residents of District 4 will be the deciding factor for moving forward, and their voices must guide the priorities for the 2026 Bond.
—
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
This was the deciding factor in Depp’s lopsided defamation win in 2022 against Heard on allegations that he was defamed by her op-ed in The Washington Post.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2025
Oftentimes, a gut feeling is the deciding factor in whether to make an offer, and that’s unlikely to change.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Polls repeatedly showed ahead of and after Election Day that the economy was the most important issue on voters’ minds, and one exit poll from December found the economy was the top deciding factor in favor of Trump for voters in the seven main battleground states that ultimately all voted for him.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deciding factor
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Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
This was the deciding factor in Depp’s lopsided defamation win in 2022 against Heard on allegations that he was defamed by her op-ed in The Washington Post.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2025
Oftentimes, a gut feeling is the deciding factor in whether to make an offer, and that’s unlikely to change.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Polls repeatedly showed ahead of and after Election Day that the economy was the most important issue on voters’ minds, and one exit poll from December found the economy was the top deciding factor in favor of Trump for voters in the seven main battleground states that ultimately all voted for him.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deciding factor
Cite this Entry
“Deciding factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deciding%20factor. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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