decisive
/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/adjective
decisive is spelled D-E-C-I-S-I-V-E: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 6.3 times per million words in written English, the 9,594th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, decisive means “Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in decisive?
| Letters | 8: D-E-C-I-S-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 6.3 times per million words; the 9,594th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is decisive?
Decisive appears 6.3 times per million words in written English, the 9,594th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce decisive?
- UK /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
- /dɪˈsɪsɪv/
Decisive has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-decisive.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of decisive
- more decisive comparative
- most decisive superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does decisive mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.
decisive vote
- 2
Decided; definite; incontrovertible.
decisive victory
- 3
Marked by promptness and decision, resolute; without hesitation.
decisive action
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Decisive in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | décisif , ferme, décidé |
| German | entscheidend, ausschlaggebend , entschlussfreudig, entschlossen |
| Portuguese | decisivo , decidido |
| Spanish | decisivo |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does decisive come from?
From Middle French décisif, equivalent to decide + -ive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).