determinant
di-TUR-mi-nuhnt
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnənt/
A factor which decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
In public health, 'social determinants' are the conditions (like housing and job security) that determine how healthy you are.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'determinare', meaning to set boundaries or limits. If you determine something, you 'set the limits' of what it can be. In science, it refers to the factors that 'limit' or 'define' the result.
Word relationships
- factor: A factor is any part of a cause; a determinant is a factor that 'determines' or strongly influences the outcome.
- byproduct: A byproduct is a secondary result, not a primary influence.
Commonly confused with
- determination: Determination is the quality of being firm in purpose; a determinant is a causal factor.
Word family
- determine (verb): cause (something) to occur in a particular way; be the decisive factor in.
Collocations
- social determinant
- key determinant
- major determinant
- environmental determinant
Example sentences
- "The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age." Public health theory (World Health Organization (WHO))
- "Education is a key determinant of future earnings." Economic analysis
Memory hook
Determinant = It 'determines' the end. The factor that draws the finish line.
When not to use
Don't use it as a synonym for 'cause' in a simple way; a determinant is one of many factors that shape a complex outcome.
Fun facts
- In linear algebra, a 'determinant' is a scalar value that can be computed from the elements of a square matrix.
Related words
Explore more words
decisive, outcome, determinism, predestined, conducive, socioeconomic
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