• Decision

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /dɪˈsɪʒən/
    • Rhymes: -ɪʒən

    Origin

    From Middle French, from Latin decisio, decisionis, from dēcīdō ("to decide").

    Full definition of decision

    Noun

    decision

    (countable and uncountable; plural decisions)
    1. A choice or judgement.
      • 2013-06-21, Karen McVeigh, US rules human genes can't be patented, The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation.
    2. It is the decision of the court that movies are protected as free speech.
      It's a tough decision, but I'll take vanilla.
    3. (uncountable) Firmness of conviction.
      After agonizing deliberations, they finally proceeded with decision.
    4. (chiefly combat sports) A result arrived at by the judges when there is no clear winner at the end of the contest.
      He has won twice by knockout, once by decision.
    5. (baseball) A win or a loss awarded to a pitcher.

    Usage notes

    (choice or judgment) Most often, to decide something is to make a decision; however, other possibilities exist as well. Many verbs used with destination or conclusion, such as reach, come to, and arrive at can also be used with decision; these serve to emphasize that the decision is the result of deliberation. Finally, some varieties of English prefer to take a decision rather than make one.

    See for uses and meaning of decision collocated with these words.

    Adjectives often applied to "decision": important, difficult, big, tough, bad, informed, easy, personal, smart, poor, good, quick, major, strategic, wise, serious, hard, stupid, hasty, responsible, complex, prudent, deliberate, significant, collective, delayed, challenging, careful, foolish, small, rash, thoughtful, slow, clever, forced, uninformed.

    Related terms

    Verb

    1. (boxing) To defeat an opponent by a decision of the judges, rather than by a knockout
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