determinant
noun
de·ter·mi·nant
di-ˈtər-mə-nənt 
1
: an element that identifies or determines the nature of something or that fixes or conditions an outcome
education level as a determinant of income
2
mathematics
: a square array of numbers bordered on the left and right by a vertical line and having a value equal to the algebraic sum of all possible products where the number of factors in each product is the same as the number of rows or columns, each factor in a given product is taken from a different row and column, and the sign of a product is positive or negative depending upon whether the number of permutations necessary to place the indices representing each factor's position in its row or column in the order of the natural numbers is odd or even
3
genetics
: gene
the determinant of the sickle-cell trait
4
biology
: epitope
Examples of determinant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The third thing is the social determinants of health.
—
Kaiser Health News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
In 2019, in collaboration with Harvard University’s School of Public Health and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Humanity 2.0 Lab published a seminal white paper outlining the social determinants of maternal and child health.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Together, power and rules are the structural determinants of health.
—Jordan King
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
An exact cause of the disorder is unknown, though research has long suggested the condition stems from genetic factors possibly in combination with environmental and social determinants.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for determinant
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kaiser Health News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
In 2019, in collaboration with Harvard University’s School of Public Health and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Humanity 2.0 Lab published a seminal white paper outlining the social determinants of maternal and child health.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Together, power and rules are the structural determinants of health.
—Jordan King
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
An exact cause of the disorder is unknown, though research has long suggested the condition stems from genetic factors possibly in combination with environmental and social determinants.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for determinant
Cite this Entry
“Determinant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/determinant. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
determinant
noun
de·ter·mi·nant
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nənt
: something that determines or influences
Medical Definition
determinant
noun
de·ter·mi·nant
di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nənt
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share