determination

[ dih-tur-muh-ney-shuhn ]

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

/ 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

Other Words From

• inter·de·termi·nation noun
• nonde·termi·nation noun
• rede·termi·nation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of determination¹

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

“We the jury request further clarification in the determination of whether a person reasonably believes physical force to be necessary,” a note from the jury to Wiley said.

From Salon

The FAA, after investigating the complaint, made a preliminary determination that the council had violated federal rules that require the city to make its airports publicly available “without unjust discrimination” against aeronautical activities.

From Los Angeles Times

The trio’s determination that the product was “safe and suitable and would be GRAS” was unanimous, according to the filing.

From Los Angeles Times

His manager throughout his career in the United States, Frank Espinoza, watched one of Vázquez’s fights on television and liked what he saw: power and determination.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the refusers I spoke with, there was a determination to stand by their principles.

From BBC

Related Words

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