X factor

American  

[eks fak-ter] / ˈɛks ˌfæk tər /

noun

• X factors
  plural

1. an essential quality or feature that is difficult to identify or express.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• X factors
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

X factor

Whatever the X factor is, Zina’s got it.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

Another X factor is the reaction of consumers.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 17, 2026

"He is the X factor of my team. He has been amazing, scoring in every game. Tonight he sent a message to the rest of the side with the way he ran and fought."

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

Over the last three games, Knecht has emerged as an X factor for the Lakers, the type of rookie weapon teams don’t normally draft midway through the first round.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 17, 2024

To turn the key in the lock, to open the door, he must change the physical reality to balance the equation, rather than supply the X factor to keep reality unchanged.

From Eight Keys to Eden by Mark Clifton