Definition of decisive adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

decisive

adjective

/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/

Word Family

decide verb
decision noun (≠ indecision)
decisive adjective (≠ indecisive)
undecided adjective

very important for the final result of a particular situation
- a decisive factor/victory/battle
- Climate was a decisive factor in establishing where the tournament should be held.
- She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.
- a decisive step (= an important action that will change a situation) towards a cleaner environment
Synonyms essential
essentialvital ▪ crucial ▪ critical ▪ decisive ▪ indispensableThese words all describe somebody/something that is extremely important and completely necessary because a particular situation or activity depends on them.
essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it something cannot exist, be made or be successful:
Experience is essential for this job.
vital essential:
The police play a vital role in our society.
essential or vital?These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in tone. Essential is used to state a fact or opinion with authority. Vital is often used when there is some worry felt about something, or a need to persuade somebody that a fact or opinion is true, right or important. Vital is less often used in negative statements: It was vital to show that he was not afraid. • Money is not vital to happiness.
crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:
It is crucial that we get this right.
critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:
Your decision is critical to our future.
crucial or critical?These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in context. Critical is often used in technical matters of business or science; crucial is often used to talk about matters that may cause worry or other emotions.
decisive of the greatest importance in affecting the final result of a particular situation:
She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.
indispensable essential; too important to be without:
Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives.
Patterns
- essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for something
- essential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to something
- essential/vital/crucial/critical that…
- essential/vital/crucial/critical to do something
- a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/factor
- of vital/crucial/critical/decisive importance
- absolutely essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable
Extra Examples
- It is the chief executive's opinion which is ultimately decisive.
- Gettysburg was the decisive battle of the Civil War.
- Morrison scored the decisive goal in the 75th minute of the game.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- prove
adverb
- potentially
- ultimately
See full entry
able to decide something quickly and with confidence
- decisive management
- The government must take decisive action on gun control.
opposite indecisive

Word Originearly 17th cent.: from French décisif, -ive, from medieval Latin decisivus, from decis- ‘determined’, from the verb decidere ‘determine’, from de- ‘off’ + caedere ‘cut’.

See decisive in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee decisive in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: decisive

Nearby words

perspective

noun

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