決め手
Meanings
decider; person who decides
Less common than the factor sense; used for a person or party whose judgment or action settles the matter, especially where someone has the deciding role.
If the votes are tied, the committee chair becomes the decider.
decisive factor; clincher; key; trump card; conclusive evidence
The common modern use: the factor, evidence, move, or blow that settles a choice, argument, contest, or outcome. Often appears as 決め手になる, 決め手を欠く, or 決め手がない.
The low price was the deciding factor in the purchase.
There is still no conclusive evidence identifying the culprit.
The three-point shot near the end became the decisive play of the game.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉が決め手になるfor something to become the decisive factor
His testimony became the decisive factor in solving the case.
- 決め手がないthere is no decisive factor (to settle something)
There's still no decisive factor for choosing between the two proposals.
- 決め手を見つけるto find the decisive factor
The investigation team was desperate to find the decisive piece of evidence in the case.
- 〈物〉が決め手となるfor an item/piece of evidence to serve as the clincher
This photograph became the key piece of evidence for identifying the culprit.