deterministic

American  

[dih-tur-muh-nis-tik] / dɪˌtɜr məˈnɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. following or relating to the philosophical doctrine of determinism, which holds that all facts and events are determined by external causes and follow natural laws, and that there is no free will.

   Rather than hewing to a deterministic model that robs the individual of agency, she believes art emerges from the interplay among individuals within a given sociocultural system.

2. Statistics. of or relating to a process or model in which the output is determined solely by the input and initial conditions, thereby always returning the same results (stochastic ).

   The algorithms are simple and deterministic, so the results are predictable and reproducible.

   In contrast, this analysis of nanoscale phenomena depends on the elements of chance rather than the deterministic classical equations of motion.

---

Other Word Forms

• deterministically adverb
• nondeterministic adjective
• semideterministic adjective

Etymology

Origin of deterministic

determin(e) + -ist + -ic

Explanation

Do you believe that nothing is random, but instead that everything happens as a result of a past condition or cause? Then you're a fan of the deterministic theory. Having a deterministic view of why we do what we do means that you don't believe in free will. A deterministic philosophy says that every action we take was already pre-determined by past events, even when it feels like we're making choices. When it comes to deterministic thinkers, there's an overlap of philosophers and physicists who believe in a theory called determinism. Turn your deterministic thinking to the future, and you'll realize it's already been determined. Mind-blowing!

Example Sentences

“Unlike the GPU, the LPU is a deterministic, low-power processor,” wrote Cantor Fitzgerald analyst C.J.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026

It relies on what is known as deterministic AI, in which outputs must conform to the laws of science.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

“A $3.6 trillion company with Apple’s resources and pedigree can have a deterministic impact on the world of robotics,” he added.

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

"While prenatal immune activity may affect brain development in the offspring, that does not mean pregnancy is deterministic," Goldstein said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2024

These quantum theories are deterministic in the sense that they give laws for the evolution of the wave with time.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking