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

determinantal

di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnan-tᵊl 

adjective

Examples of determinant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These patients already have different social determinants of health like proximity to care and the consequences of implicit bias. —Susan Rinkunas, refinery29.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Another more than $200 million will be invested in hospital and outpatient programs and services designed in part to address social determinants of health such as expanding access to healthy foods, housing, transportation and prescription drugs. —Bruce Japsen, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

In addition, rural communities might also not have as many of the social determinants of good mental health, such as healthcare access and economic stability. —Rebecca Loroff, Journal Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024

Specifically, Feinberg said Oracle is interested in addressing social determinants of health and how life expectancy can vary vastly by ZIP code. —Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see determine

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing determinant

• antigenic determinant

Kids 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 

1

a

: a hypothetical aggregate of biophores conceived as comparable to the gene of more recent biological theory

b

: gene

2

: epitope