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 Word Forms

• interdetermination noun
• nondetermination noun
• redetermination 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

The look of desperate resignation on her face as Michael’s crew closes the door on her at the end of the first “Godfather” was the antidote to the look of icy determination on his face.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Defending the Arctic—an environment that for centuries has thwarted ambitions of explorers and governments—will demand big budgets, unprecedented resources and determination.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“All we have ever sought is a clear judicial determination on whether these practices are lawful under state law. That is not an unreasonable ask — and tribes should not be denied their day in court.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

His story is one of determination, unearthed as a rebuttal to the many insistences that he doesn’t belong in the Marines.

Read more on Salon

The phrase “play harder,” Mr. Early writes, “was an expression of aspiration, determination, willpower, and courage.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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