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Synonyms

determination

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

noun

  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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • interdetermination noun
  • nondetermination noun
  • redetermination noun

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”; determine ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fans and fellow athletes flooded social media with messages praising her determination and resilience, even as concerns grew about the toll the sport has taken on her body.

From Salon

"This is a self-reliant character who outwits those trying to exploit her with silent grit and steely determination. Momin slipped into this feminist folklore with quiet understanding."

From BBC

Our success as a team is based on our determination, resilience, and intensity, and we settle for nothing less than victory.

From Barron's

Scarlet’s good intentions to end wars by way of sheer determination to do what’s right might prove insubstantial in practice.

From Los Angeles Times

"Flying was his passion. He was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline, a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination."

From BBC