Definition of decisive

The word "decisive" has its roots in the Latin words "decidus," meaning "cut off" or "severed," and "decisio," meaning "judgment" or "decision." In the 15th century, the Latin word "decisivus" entered the English language, originally meaning "able to cut off" or "separating." Over time, the meaning evolved to emphasize the idea of making a critical or final decision, as if severing all other options. In the 17th century, the word "decisive" emerged, with the modern definition of being the determining or crucial factor in a decision or outcome. Today, "decisive" is used to describe a decision or action that eliminates all other possibilities and brings a conclusion to a situation.