determinant
noun
de·ter·mi·nant
di-ˈtər-mə-nənt 
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
Examples of determinant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most importantly, requirements to increase teacher quantity can seriously threaten teacher quality, which is a far more powerful determinant of whether students are learning.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the most important determinant of when the central bank will restart rate cuts is what happens with inflation expectations.
—Colby Smith, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Ultimately, physical location is just a single piece of the puzzle; the strength of your security strategy is the true determinant.
—Pranav Dalal, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Pharmaceutical and medical device monitoring, cancer screenings, immunizations, smoking cessation, mental health, drug abuse, social determinants of health, cybersecurity and reproductive rights will all suffer significant and deadly setbacks.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for determinant
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the most important determinant of when the central bank will restart rate cuts is what happens with inflation expectations.
—Colby Smith, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Ultimately, physical location is just a single piece of the puzzle; the strength of your security strategy is the true determinant.
—Pranav Dalal, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Pharmaceutical and medical device monitoring, cancer screenings, immunizations, smoking cessation, mental health, drug abuse, social determinants of health, cybersecurity and reproductive rights will all suffer significant and deadly setbacks.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for determinant
Cite this Entry
“Determinant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/determinant. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
determinant
noun
de·ter·mi·nant
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nənt
: something that determines or influences
Medical Definition
determinant
noun
de·ter·mi·nant
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nənt
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