de·ci·sion
Pronounced:
/dɪˈsɪʒən/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural de·ci·sionsMeaning:
1 [count] : a choice that you make about something after thinking about it : the result of deciding ▪ She announced her decision to go to medical school. ▪ a big/controversial/final decision ▪ Have you made/reached a decision? ▪ After weeks of deliberation, he finally came to a decision. = After weeks of deliberation, he finally arrived at a decision. ▪ He based his decision on facts, not emotions. ▪ She made a conscious decision to leave the painting unfinished. ▪ (Brit) The government has taken a decision to withdraw all troops. [=the government has made an important and official decision to withdraw all troops] ▪ an informed decision [=a decision based on facts or information] ▪ a split-second decision [=a decision that must be made in an instant] ◊In informal spoken English, someone who says “Decisions, decisions” is having difficulty making a decision, usually about an unimportant matter. ▪ “Decisions, decisions. I can't decide which flavor of ice cream to get.”
2 [noncount] formal : the ability to make choices quickly and confidently ▪ a leader of courage and decision [=decisiveness] ▪ We need someone who will act with decision even under pressure. —opposite indecision
3 [count] a : the particular end of a legal or official argument : a legal or official judgment ▪ The U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision brought an end to racial segregation in public schools. ▪ The Supreme Court handed down a 5–4 decision. [=five members of the court voted one way, and the other four members voted the opposite way, and the side with the five votes won] ▪ The appeals court upheld the decision. [=the appeals court agreed with the decision made earlier by a lower court] ▪ The appeals court overturned the decision. [=the appeals court disagreed with the decision made earlier by a lower court] b : a report explaining why a legal or official judgment was made in a particular way ▪ the court's ten-page decision
4 [noncount] : the act of deciding something ▪ The moment of decision has come. You must decide. ▪ The judge has the power of decision. [=the judge has the power to make the decision]
2 [noncount] formal : the ability to make choices quickly and confidently ▪ a leader of courage and decision [=decisiveness] ▪ We need someone who will act with decision even under pressure. —opposite indecision
3 [count] a : the particular end of a legal or official argument : a legal or official judgment ▪ The U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision brought an end to racial segregation in public schools. ▪ The Supreme Court handed down a 5–4 decision. [=five members of the court voted one way, and the other four members voted the opposite way, and the side with the five votes won] ▪ The appeals court upheld the decision. [=the appeals court agreed with the decision made earlier by a lower court] ▪ The appeals court overturned the decision. [=the appeals court disagreed with the decision made earlier by a lower court] b : a report explaining why a legal or official judgment was made in a particular way ▪ the court's ten-page decision
4 [noncount] : the act of deciding something ▪ The moment of decision has come. You must decide. ▪ The judge has the power of decision. [=the judge has the power to make the decision]