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

"Additional analysis of nearby seismic stations, long period seismic waves, and satellite imagery led to the determination that the seismic event was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow, and that no earthquake had occurred."

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

“The data needs to bear out the ultimate determination on this, but again, there’s some contra-data that’s coming out and suggesting different things,” Newsom said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Dolly Parton appeared on Michael Parkinson's BBC chat show in 1979, speaking candidly about her childhood in rural Tennessee, her family's poverty, and the determination that helped her rise to international stardom.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Declaring Monday that "America has changed," the Canadian leader is moving forward with determination: seeking new trading partners, launching major projects and boosting military spending.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Captain Marsh’s stony face seemed to crumble for a moment, and then he regained his steely determination.

From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis

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

Congress required the DHS Secretary to periodically review country determinations with extensions limited to 18 months at a time, though they are often extended for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

With Friday’s victory, Paramount is staying on that timetable, but regulators in Europe and Britain have opened their own regulatory investigations and are expected to make their own determinations in the coming months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 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

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