Decision: meaning, definitions and examples

💡
Add to dictionary

decision

 

[ dɪˈsɪʒn ]

Context #1 | Noun

in making choices

A decision is a choice or judgement that you make after a period of consideration. It is the action or process of deciding something or of resolving a question. Decisions can be difficult to make, especially when there are multiple options to choose from.

Synonyms

choice, judgement, resolution.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
decision

General context when someone comes to a conclusion or makes up their mind.

  • The decision to move to a new city was not taken lightly
  • She made the decision based on her career opportunities
choice

When someone is presented with different options and must pick one.

  • You have a choice between tea and coffee
  • His choice to study abroad transformed his life
judgement

Typically used when making an assessment or forming an opinion, often in a critical context.

  • Her judgement of the proposal was quite harsh
  • Everyone trusted his judgement as he was the most experienced
resolution

Often used to describe a firm decision to do or not to do something, or the outcome of a conflict or problem.

  • She made a resolution to exercise more in the new year
  • The resolution of the dispute was satisfying for all parties involved

Examples of usage

  • I have made a decision to accept the job offer.
  • She needs to make a decision about which university to attend.
  • His decision to move to a new country was a big step.
  • We need to come to a decision soon.
Context #2 | Noun

in law

In legal terms, a decision refers to a determination reached by a court or tribunal. It is a conclusion or judgment reached after consideration of the facts and arguments presented in a case.

Synonyms

judgment, ruling, verdict.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
decision

Used in various contexts where a choice is made after some consideration, generally more neutral and common in everyday language.

  • She made a decision to move to a new city
  • His decision to study abroad has changed his life
judgment

Often used in more formal or legal contexts to refer to an authoritative conclusion. Can also imply an opinion formed after careful thought.

  • The judge’s judgment was final
  • Her harsh judgment of his actions was unfair
ruling

Typically used in legal contexts to refer to an official decision made by a judge or a court.

  • The court’s ruling favored the defendant
  • The ruling will have far-reaching consequences
verdict

Specific to legal contexts, especially relating to a jury’s decision in a trial, usually regarding someone's guilt or innocence.

  • The jury delivered a guilty verdict
  • The verdict was met with applause from the public

Examples of usage

  • The judge's decision was based on the evidence presented in court.
  • The Supreme Court's decision set a new precedent in the legal system.
Context #3 | Noun

in computer science

In computing, a decision is a point in a program where a particular choice is made based on certain conditions. It involves selecting a course of action from several alternatives.

Synonyms

choice, option, selection.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
decision

Used when referring to the act of making up your mind about something after careful thought.

  • After long consideration, she made a decision to move abroad.
  • His decision to quit his job was not taken lightly.
choice

Refers to the act of selecting from a range of possible options.

  • You have a choice between apple pie and chocolate cake.
  • He made the choice to stay home rather than go out.
selection

Often used when the choice involves picking from a variety of items or people, sometimes implying a careful pick.

  • The selection of songs at the concert was impressive.
  • I appreciate your selection of gifts for the party.
option

Indicates one among possible alternatives or choices available.

  • You have the option to either drive or take the train.
  • Her options narrowed down to just two universities.

Examples of usage

  • The if-else statement is used in programming to make decisions.
  • The decision-making process in algorithms is crucial for the program's functionality.

Translations

Translations of the word "decision" in other languages:

🇵🇹 decisão

🇮🇳 निर्णय

🇩🇪 Entscheidung

🇮🇩 keputusan

🇺🇦 рішення

🇵🇱 decyzja

🇯🇵 決定 (けってい)

🇫🇷 décision

🇪🇸 decisión

🇹🇷 karar

🇰🇷 결정 (gyeoljeong)

🇸🇦 قرار

🇨🇿 rozhodnutí

🇸🇰 rozhodnutie

🇨🇳 决定 (juédìng)

🇸🇮 odločitev

🇮🇸 ákvörðun

🇰🇿 шешім

🇬🇪 გადაწყვეტილება

🇦🇿 qərar

🇲🇽 decisión

Etymology

The word 'decision' originated from the Latin word 'decisio', which means 'a cutting off'. It first appeared in English in the 15th century. The concept of decision-making has been studied in various fields such as psychology, economics, and philosophy. Making decisions is a fundamental aspect of human life and is essential for progress and growth.

See also: decidability, decidable, decide, decided, decider, deciding, decisive, decisively, decisiveness, indecisive, undecided.

Word Frequency Rank

With position #488, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.