determinant

[ dih-tur-muh-nuhnt ]

noun

1. a determining agent or factor.
2. Mathematics. an algebraic expression of the sum of products of elements, each with an appropriate algebraic sign, usually written in a square array and used in the solution of systems of linear equations.
3. Also called antigenic determinant,. Immunology. any site on an antigen molecule at which an antibody can bind, the chemical structure of the site determining the specific combining antibody.
4. Genetics Archaic. a gene.

determinant

/ dɪˈtɜːmɪnənt /

adjective

1. serving to determine or affect

noun

1. a factor, circumstance, etc, that influences or determines
2. maths a square array of elements that represents the sum of certain products of these elements, used to solve simultaneous equations, in vector studies, etc Compare matrix

Other Words From

• nonde·termi·nant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of determinant¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin dēterminant- (stem of dētermināns ), present participle of dētermināre; determine, -ant

Example Sentences

“It is basically an asset management tool, but it is not the sole determinant of what trees or why 25 feet clearance is the right distance,” Skinner said.

From Voice of San Diego

Of the three, fertility, the number of children women have, is the key—that’s the major determinant of the population in 2100.

From Nautilus

Those enrollment numbers in turn are a key determinant of the annual revenue that colleges earn and shape how they allocate resources.

From Ozy

Those enrollment numbers in turn are a key determinant of the annual revenue colleges earn and shape how they allocate resources.

From Ozy

Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos once said that a major determinant of your brand’s potency is what people say about it when you are out of the room.

From Search Engine Watch

But race is not the main determinant in looking to the future.

From The Daily Beast

Political pressure, economic resources and the ability to navigate into a Kafkaesque bureaucracy play a determinant role.

From The Daily Beast

On 11 August 1947, he told the soon-to-be born nation that religion was not the determinant of Pakistani nationalism.

From The Daily Beast

All seem to agree that Goldstone was a determinant of Israel's relatively restrained attack against Hamas this time around.

From The Daily Beast

The social science on child welfare overwhelmingly shows that economic resources are the main determinant of child well-being.

From The Daily Beast

Thus, the determinant motive is here supposed to have been aversion to the marriage of relatives.

From Project Gutenberg

The expectation of pain or pleasure determines conduct; and, if so, it must be the sole determinant of conduct.

From Project Gutenberg

The relation of supply to demand causes an oscillation of prices, but it is not the determinant of value.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole determinant system of an id, as I conceive it, is in a state of continual fluctuation upwards and downwards.

From Project Gutenberg

The effect of lactic acid as a determinant of bacterial and enzymic changes is very important.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compelling
• convincing
• decisive
• indisputable
• irrefutable
• irrevocable
• precise
• unambiguous
• undeniable
• unmistakable