coefficient

American  

[koh-uh-fish-uhnt] / ˌkoʊ əˈfɪʃ ənt /

noun

1. Mathematics. a number or quantity placed (generally) before and multiplying another quantity, as 3 in the expression 3x.

2. Physics. a number that is constant for a given substance, body, or process under certain specified conditions, serving as a measure of one of its properties.

   coefficient of friction.

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adjective

1. acting in consort; cooperating.

coefficient British  

/ ˌkəʊɪˈfɪʃənt /

noun

1. maths

   1. a numerical or constant factor in an algebraic term

      the coefficient of the term 3xyz is 3

   2. the product of all the factors of a term excluding one or more specified variables

      the coefficient of x in 3axyz is 3ayz

2. physics a value that relates one physical quantity to another

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coefficient Scientific  

/ kō′ə-fĭsh′ənt /

1. A number or symbol multiplied with a variable or an unknown quantity in an algebraic term. For example, 4 is the coefficient in the term 4 x, and x is the coefficient in x (a + b).

2. A numerical measure of a physical or chemical property that is constant for a system under specified conditions. The speed of light in a vacuum, for example, is a constant.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• coefficiently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of coefficient

First recorded in 1655–65, coefficient is from the New Latin word coefficient- (stem of coefficiēns ). See co-, efficient

Explanation

In math and science, a coefficient is a constant term related to the properties of a product. In the equation that measures friction, for example, the number that always stays the same is the coefficient. In plain English, coefficient means "joining together to produce a result." Sometimes people use the word to talk about social phenomena, like the coefficient factors of vanity and self-loathing in a celebrity's alcoholic demise. But mostly you'll encounter it in math and science. In algebra, the coefficient is the number that you multiply a variable by, like the 4 in 4x=y. In chemistry, when you see a number in front of a chemical like 2H2o, you're looking at the coefficient.

Example Sentences

A spokesman for Coefficient Giving said that, because there is disagreement about which AI threats are most pressing, it avoids “taking institutional positions that might imply a settled view about the right approach.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

The tile industry uses a rating system called the Coefficient of Friction, often listed as COF, to rank tiles for slip-resistance.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2023

Use the 95 Percent Critical Values of the Sample Correlation Coefficient table at the end of Chapter 12: In this case, df = 12.

From Textbooks • Mar. 27, 2020

The effort to create new standards for bats began in 2011, when the N.C.A.A. switched to the Bbcor bat, which stands for Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution, and immediately saw a decrease in home runs.

From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2018

Numerical Values of the Coefficient of Diffusion.—The table on p.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various

Related Words

• collegial
• concerted
• coordinated
• harmonious
• interdependent
• reciprocal
• symbiotic
• united