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

Part of her determination was also to prove to her children she could do it.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Jocelin’s determination to build a vast new spire on the cathedral of which he is dean, without adequate foundations, and against all practical advice, begins as a vision and ends in delusion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

"It underscores Samsung's dominance of the foldable category and its determination to expand the market with a device for almost every type of user."

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

His determination may be admirable, but the sheer, futile arrogance of such a display backfires in equally spectacular fashion.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

The activities toughened up kids, building their endurance and determination.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

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

Meanwhile, courts are struggling under the additional burden of reviewing bail determinations for scores of defendants already in custody.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

It's not feasible to have 50 different states coming out with their own determinations, Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris said.

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

After traveling nearly eleven billion miles in my lifetime, my atoms and I had arrived at a place where we could confidently make such determinations about love.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

Related Words

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