determination

American  

[dih-tur-muh-ney-shuhn] / dɪˌtɜr məˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

determinations plural

1. the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose.

2. ascertainment, as after observation or investigation.

   determination of a ship's latitude.

3. the information ascertained; solution.

4. the settlement of a dispute, question, etc., as by authoritative decision.

5. the decision or settlement arrived at or pronounced.

6. the quality of being resolute; firmness of purpose.

7. a fixed purpose or intention.

   It is my determination to suppress vice.

8. the fixing or settling of amount, limit, character, etc..

   the determination of a child's allowance.

9. fixed direction or tendency toward some object or end.

10. Chiefly Law. conclusion or termination.

11. Embryology. the fixation of the fate of a cell or group of cells, especially before actual morphological or functional differentiation occurs.

12. Logic.

    1. the act of rendering a notion more precise by the addition of differentiating characteristics.

    2. the definition of a concept in terms of its constituent elements.

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determination British  

/ dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of making a decision

2. the condition of being determined; resoluteness

3. the act or an instance of ending an argument by the opinion or decision of an authority

4. the act or an instance of fixing or settling the quality, limit, position, etc, of something

5. a decision or opinion reached, rendered, or settled upon

6. a resolute movement towards some object or end

7. law the termination of an estate or interest

8. law the decision reached by a court of justice on a disputed matter

9. logic

   1. the process of qualifying or limiting a proposition or concept

   2. the qualifications or limitations used in this process

10. the condition of embryonic tissues of being able to develop into only one particular tissue or organ in the adult

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interdetermination
  noun
• nondetermination
  noun
• redetermination
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• determinations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of determination

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin dēterminātiōn-, stem of dēterminātiō “boundary, conclusion,” literally “a bounding,” equivalent to dētermināt(us) “bounded” (past participle of dētermināre “to bound, limit”; see determine) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Determination can be a decision, or the focus you need to get something done. The sense of determination, as making up your mind about something, finds its roots in an Old French word meaning “decision," such as the judge's determination that the man was guilty, or the panel's determination that the chocolate was too bitter. Usually the decision comes after much consideration and research, like when Copernicus made the determination that the earth revolves around the sun. The word has come to mean also grit, gumption, pluck, persistence: "With hard work and determination, they were able finish the school project on time."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

determination determinations

Judge Graf will not make a determination of guilt or innocence but will weigh whether the prosecution has presented strong enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Sisu tackles her missions in the rubble left by Venezuela's two earthquakes with the same determination and energy she uses to chase her favorite toy, an orange and blue ball.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

“According to some of the American published sources, the cause of the conflict was put down to Tripoli’s piracy and America’s determination to suppress it,” Folayan wrote.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

“I don’t think it’s a lack of patriotism, so much as a determination that no presidential administration should be able to center itself as the focus of that patriotism,” Rudalevige said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

Or was he perhaps considering that, just this once, his determination to win hadn’t been strong enough?

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Right: Despite holding that TPS determinations are generally unreviewable, Alito acknowledged that plaintiffs could still raise constitutional challenges, something only Justice Clarence Thomas disagreed with.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

Sauer said court review of TPS decisions was barred to prevent "judicial micromanagement" of foreign policy determinations.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

"The investigation of suspected criminal offences resulting from alleged breaches of the Commission's determinations is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland," the Commission said in a statement.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

Meanwhile, courts are struggling under the additional burden of reviewing bail determinations for scores of defendants already in custody.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

The difficulty in making final determinations is that there are often acres of room for interpretation.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• assurance
• boldness
• bravery
• conviction
• courage
• decision
• dedication
• energy
• fortitude
• grit
• persistence
• resolve
• self-confidence
• steadfastness
• tenacity
• valor
• willpower