adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪsɪv
nonstandard:/dɪˈsɪsɪv/
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 S AY1 S IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
decisive vote
decisive battle
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Decided; definite; incontrovertible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
decisive victory
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Marked by promptness and decision, resolute; without hesitation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
decisive action
a decisive person
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective
Meaning 4
determining or having the power to determine an outcome
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
cast the decisive vote
two factors had a decisive influence
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: indecisive
5
adjective
Meaning 5
characterized by decision and firmness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an able and decisive young woman
we needed decisive leadership
she gave him a decisive answer
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: indecisive
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a critical point in the campaign
the critical test
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: critical
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
unmistakable
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
had a decisive lead in the polls
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle French décisif, equivalent to decide + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
76 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
حاسم
(ḥāsim)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Arabic:
حاسمة
(ḥāsima)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Armenian:
վճռական
(včṙakan)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Armenian:
որոշիչ
(orošičʻ)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Azerbaijani:
həlledici
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Bulgarian:
решаващ
(rešavašt)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Catalan:
decisiu
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Chinese Mandarin:
決定性的 /决定性的
(juédìngxìng de)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Chinese Mandarin:
蓋棺定論的 /盖棺定论的
(gàiguāndìnglùn de)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Czech:
rozhodující
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Czech:
směrodatný
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Danish:
afgørende
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Dutch:
beslissend
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Dutch:
afdoend
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Dutch:
doorslaggevend
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Finnish:
ratkaiseva
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
French:
décisif
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Galician:
decisivo
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
German:
entscheidend
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
German:
ausschlaggebend
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Greek:
αποφασιστικός
(apofasistikós)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Ancient Greek:
κρίσιμος
(krísimos)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Hebrew:
החלטי
(hekhlet'y)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Hindi:
निश्चयार्थक
(niścayārthak)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Hindi:
निर्णायक
(nirṇāyak)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Hungarian:
döntő
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Hungarian:
mérvadó
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Irish:
cinntitheach
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Irish:
cinniúnach
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Italian:
decisivo
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Italian:
determinante
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Italian:
sostanziale
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Latvian:
izšķirošs
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Persian:
تعیینکننده
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Polish:
decydujący
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Polish:
przesądzający
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Polish:
rozsądzający
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Portuguese:
decisivo
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Russian:
решающий
(rešajuščij)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Serbo-Croatian:
odlùčujūćī
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Serbo-Croatian:
prȅsudan
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Spanish:
decisivo
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Swedish:
avgörande
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Swedish:
utslagsgivande
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Swedish:
bestämmande
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Ukrainian:
виріша́льний
(vyrišálʹnyj)
— having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy
Armenian:
վճռական
(včṙakan)
— marked by promptness and decision
Azerbaijani:
qəti
— marked by promptness and decision
Bulgarian:
решителен
(rešitelen)
— marked by promptness and decision
Catalan:
decisiu
— marked by promptness and decision
Chinese Mandarin:
果斷 /果断
(guǒduàn)
— marked by promptness and decision
Czech:
rozhodný
— marked by promptness and decision
Danish:
beslutsom
— marked by promptness and decision
Dutch:
besluitvaardig
— marked by promptness and decision
Dutch:
beslist
— marked by promptness and decision
Finnish:
päättäväinen
— marked by promptness and decision
French:
ferme
— marked by promptness and decision
French:
décidé
— marked by promptness and decision
German:
entschlussfreudig
— marked by promptness and decision
German:
entschlossen
— marked by promptness and decision
Greek:
αποφασιστικός
(apofasistikós)
— marked by promptness and decision
Hindi:
निश्चयार्थक
(niścayārthak)
— marked by promptness and decision
Hindi:
निर्णायक
(nirṇāyak)
— marked by promptness and decision
Italian:
decisivo
— marked by promptness and decision
Italian:
deciso
— marked by promptness and decision
Polish:
stanowczy
— marked by promptness and decision
Polish:
zdecydowany
— marked by promptness and decision
Polish:
bezapelacyjny
— marked by promptness and decision
Portuguese:
decidido
— marked by promptness and decision
Russian:
реши́тельный
(rešítelʹnyj)
— marked by promptness and decision
Serbo-Croatian:
ȍdlūčan
— marked by promptness and decision
Swedish:
beslutsam
— marked by promptness and decision
Swedish:
fast
— marked by promptness and decision
Swedish:
resolut
— marked by promptness and decision
Swedish:
bestämd
— marked by promptness and decision
Ukrainian:
рішу́чий
(rišúčyj)
— marked by promptness and decision
