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

In a LinkedIn survey of over 1,000 hiring managers, 53% identified showing up late as a significant deal-breaker in job interviews. —Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

While flirting and contacting exes are clear deal-breakers for many, personal pleasure and harmless interactions tend to be more widely accepted. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025

After all, flaming bright red seats are a deal-breaker for many potential buyers. —Peter Lyon, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

One potential deal-breaker: SEC schools play eight league contests and one other power-conference opponent, while the Big Ten has played nine conference games since 2016. —The Athletic College Football, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deal-breaker

• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker
• lawmaker
• matchmaker
• pacemaker
• partaker
• peacemaker