determiner

[dih-tur-muh-ner] / dɪˈtɜr mə nər /

NOUN

something that determines

Synonyms

STRONGEST

causal factor causality causation cause determinant determining factor reason

STRONG

antecedent consideration factor

NOUN

one who determines

Synonyms

STRONG

analyst analyzer appraiser arbiter assessor authority controller critic dictator director evaluator expert governor judge pundit referee reviewer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It seems like, for him, his sexuality isn’t necessarily a big determiner of his identity; it is a symptom of him wanting to explore.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

It’s the key determiner of living standards: Wages go up as productivity improves.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

Ridley said the Official Golf World Rankings are "a legitimate determiner of who the best players in the game are" and because the Masters is an invitational event they can "adjust as necessary".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2024

"Nobody should be the sole determiner of their own biases, but they maintain that," Lubet added.

From Reuters • Nov. 13, 2023

Toni Morrison’s isn’t functioning as a modifier, which shades the meaning of genius, but as a determiner, which pins down its referent, in the same way that an article like the or this would do.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker