policymaker

noun

pol·​i·​cy·​mak·​er ˈpä-lə-sē-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce policymaker (audio)
variants or less commonly policy maker or policy-maker
plural policymakers also policy makers or policy-makers
: someone who is responsible for or involved in establishing policy
economic policymakers
He had been a policymaker under four Republican and Democratic Presidents and had spent years on Capitol Hill fencing with congressional committees and lobbying for votes.—William Greider

Examples of policymaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Likewise, earlier this year Democratic policymakers promoted the concept of Medicare by Choice. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Secondly, markets may overreact to a piece of data or a policymaker tidbit, pricing in hikes or cuts that the central bank then fails to deliver. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 Many conservative policymakers support work requirements, and some states have attempted to implement such rules for years. — Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026 The Middle East is already experiencing a low-intensity nuclear competition, at least in its civilian dimension, and the challenge facing policymakers is how to slow and manage this trend. — Yoel Guzansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for policymaker

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of policymaker was in 1868

Rhymes for policymaker

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Browse Nearby Words

policy loan
policymaker
policymaking
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Cite this Entry

“Policymaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/policymaker. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on policymaker

Nglish: Translation of policymaker for Spanish Speakers

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