policymaking

noun

pol·​i·​cy·​mak·​ing ˈpä-lə-sē-ˌmā-kiŋ 

variants or policy-making

: the act or practice of establishing policy

… Bloomberg described a world where cities, rather than nations, are the major players in both global competition and innovative policymaking …

—Rob Fischer

… leaked word … that all Iraq policymaking was being centralized at the White House …

—Michael Duffy et al.

—sometimes used before another noun

the policymaking process

The Fed's policymaking committee sets rates that serve as the benchmark for the interest rates charged on mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and certificates of deposit.

—Kevin G. Hall

The controller manages a state office of more than 1,400 workers and ensures tax dollars are efficiently and effectively spent. With a few exceptions, it is not a policymaking position.

—The East Bay Times (California)

Examples of policymaking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Census and Socioeconomic Data: The accuracy of datasets used for policymaking, including housing, labor, and economic inequality, may be undermined through changes in methodology or funding cuts. —Monica Sanders, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

Zeldin is considered to have little environmental policymaking experience — but is a strong supporter of Trump's broad deregulatory push. —Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024

The dysfunctions of Congress have ceded much domestic policymaking to the executive. —The Editors, National Review, 17 Feb. 2025

This is a comparison of Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee statement with the one issued after the Fed’s previous policymaking meeting in December. —Sean Conlon, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for policymaking

• aching
• baking
• braking
• breaking
• caking
• faking
• flaking
• making
• quaking
• raking
• shaking
• slaking