clincher

plural clinchers

1. That which clinches; that which makes something final or firm; a decisive factor.

   The clincher was that we couldn't wait any longer to leave, or it would get dark.

   3 more examples

   Newcastle's Dan Gosling was sent off for a foul on Russell Martin but Ba fired in to cut the deficit, before Holt nodded in the clincher.

   2011 December 10, Arindam Rej, “Norwich 4 - 2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport

   Even after what turned out to be the clincher, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Jorginho went close to forcing a penalty shootout.

   2022 April 12, Neil Johnston, “Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport

   Transport Scotland acknowledges that the permanence of the new fares regime could be the clincher in persuading people to "travel more often and make long-term choices with certainty, helping people to leave the car at home".

   2025 September 17, Conrad Landin, “Decarbonising Scottish transport”, in RAIL, number 1044, page 39

2. cyclingA tyre with a bead around the edge to attach to the rim of the wheel when inflated.