deal-breaker

noun

deal-break·​er ˈdēl-ˌbrā-kər 

variants or less commonly deal breaker or dealbreaker

plural deal-breakers also deal breakers or dealbreakers

1

: someone or something that prevents a deal or arrangement from being reached or fulfilled

That's where the other key player, Tomas Kaberle, comes in. He was a deal-breaker a few weeks ago in a potential trade between the Flyers and Toronto, when Quinn would not substitute him for the injured Danny Markov.

—Tim Panaccio

Pay attention to any signs of a DIY fix or update. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but it's better to know now—when you can ask the seller about it—than after the deal is done.

—Matt Ellis

2

: a reason for rejecting someone or something

The display is disappointing but not necessarily a deal-breaker unless your job consists of editing photos and videos.

—Jason Cipriani

Overall, the biggest dealbreaker was the $290 price tag.

—Bianca Alba

Any number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.

—Liza Mundy

Examples of deal-breaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the phone interviews, which includes questions about relationship deal-breakers, the casting team moves along to Zoom interviews — sometimes one-on-one and other times, with four or five people — that can last up to 90 minutes. —Emily Longeretta, Variety, 14 June 2024

But this is not necessarily a deal-breaker, says Johnson. —Will Stone, NPR, 13 June 2024

Attacking Israelis in their own homes and committing many atrocities against them is a deal-breaker. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2024

Keep in Mind These headphones aren't the most durable and probably won't stand the test of time, but with a price of two pairs for under $30, that may not be a deal-breaker. —Shannon Ullman, Verywell Health, 3 June 2024

But as long as Lee doesn’t pull a Kenny Atkinson here, none of that is a deal-breaker. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2024

If this is a deal-breaker for you, check some of the others on this list. —Isabella Ubaldi, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024

If this sounds like a deal-breaker to you, remember that crypto transfers come with absolutely no withdrawal fees. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

With travel back to or at times exceeding pre-COVID levels, extra fees don’t seem to be a deal-breaker for customers. —Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1