Definition
Deal breaker is the condition or factor that causes a potential deal to be abandoned. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
You know Deal breaker is doing work when it changes a weekly choice — price, hire, channel, or kill. The working definition: Condition or factor that causes a potential deal to be abandoned.
Common mistake
Using Deal breaker as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Deal
Business agreement or transaction between two or more parties.
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Deal flow
Rate at which new investment opportunities are presented to investors.
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Deal structure
Framework and terms that define how a business transaction is organized.
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Deal-making
Process of negotiating and completing business transactions and agreements.
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