multifactorial

American  

[muhl-tee-fak-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-, muhl-tahy-] / ˌmʌl ti fækˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-, ˌmʌl taɪ- /

adjective

1. having or stemming from a number of different causes or influences.

   Some medical researchers regard cancer as a multifactorial disease.

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multifactorial British  

/ ˌmʌltɪfækˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. genetics of or designating inheritance that depends on more than one gene

2. involving or including a number of elements or factors

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• multifactorially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of multifactorial

First recorded in 1915–20; multi- + factor + -ial

Example Sentences

Diplomatic resolutions are multifactorial, especially when the military has been deployed.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Research has led experts to unlock the multifactorial causes of obesity, including sociological and physiological determinants of health.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2024

“This could be a multifactorial presentation that we're seeing,” Lyons said.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 4, 2024

“That just highlights the fact that autoimmunity is multifactorial, there's not a single cause or only a single way to get there,” Chang said.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2024

Most of the common diseases, such as heart disease, are multifactorial or polygenic, which refers to a phenotypic characteristic that is determined by two or more genes, and also environmental factors such as diet.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013