determinant

noun

de·​ter·​mi·​nant di-ˈtər-mə-nənt How to pronounce determinant (audio)
1
: an element that identifies or determines the nature of something or that fixes or conditions an outcome
education level as a determinant of income
2
mathematics : a square array of numbers bordered on the left and right by a vertical line and having a value equal to the algebraic sum of all possible products where the number of factors in each product is the same as the number of rows or columns, each factor in a given product is taken from a different row and column, and the sign of a product is positive or negative depending upon whether the number of permutations necessary to place the indices representing each factor's position in its row or column in the order of the natural numbers is odd or even
3
genetics : gene
the determinant of the sickle-cell trait
4
biology : epitope
determinantal adjective

Examples of determinant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Although Coe spoke of testosterone as being the key determinant in performance, there remains debate in the scientific community about whether androgenic hormones like testosterone serve as useful markers of athletic advantage. Amanda Davies, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 Ward 8 resident Ambrose Lane Jr., head of the D.C. Health Alliance Network, which advocates better outcomes for communities of color, said the headquarters move is no guarantee that health disparities and social determinants of health will change. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Health Literacy and Stigma Rural communities tend to have higher rates of poor health literacy due to a variety of factors such as low education levels, lack of health insurance, language barriers, poverty, and other social determinants of health. Drs. Aditi U. Joshi and Brandon M. Welch, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 But to find its argument compelling, the reader will need an open-mindedness to grand, cyclical patterns as determinants of history and a willingness to accept some elasticity in timelines. Neil Howe, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Bauer attributes the poverty of the third world to cultural values inimical to productivity: In much of the Third World the political, social, and personal determinants of economic performance are often uncongenial to economic development. Wanjiru Njoya, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024 The review also emphasized the negative health consequences of maternal trauma and prenatal stress and underscored the role of social determinants of health such as economic stability, education, and environment in pregnancy outcomes. Mira Cheng, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024 This means looking beyond demographics to consider deeply systemic challenges that affect healthcare access, analyzing factors such as income, age, population distribution in specific regions and social determinants of health (SDOH). Ariel Katz, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Since most interactions with the criminal justice system stem from unmet needs, and since prevention is more effective than enforcement and punishment alone, taking an approach that addresses the social determinants of safety is an indispensable way of reducing crime. Darius Graham, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'determinant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see determine

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of determinant was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near determinant

Cite this Entry

“Determinant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/determinant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

determinant

noun
de·​ter·​mi·​nant di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nənt How to pronounce determinant (audio)
: something that determines or influences

Medical Definition

determinant

noun
de·​ter·​mi·​nant di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nənt How to pronounce determinant (audio)
1
a
: a hypothetical aggregate of biophores conceived as comparable to the gene of more recent biological theory
b
: gene
2
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