French word

déterminant

Pronunciation

IPA/detɛʁminɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivedecisive

Example

Son soutien a été déterminant pour sa réussite.

His support was decisive in his success.

Illustration for déterminant (decisive)

More examples

Sa présence a joué un rôle déterminant dans le projet.

His presence played a decisive role in the project.

Core concept

A factor that tips the outcome decisively one way or the other.

Common phrases

  • rôle déterminant

    decisive role

  • facteur déterminant

    decisive factor

  • élément déterminant

    decisive element

Similar words

décisif: Directly determining the final decision or outcome.
crucial: So important that success or failure depends on it.
essentiel: Fundamental and indispensable to something's existence or operation.
important: Having substantial influence or value and requiring attention.

Definition in French

Qui est essentiel pour décider du sort d'une chose; qui a une influence décisive.

Word origin

French déterminant comes from Latin determinans, the present participle of determinare, through the verb déterminer, and developed as an adjective meaning decisive.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, déterminant agrees with the noun: déterminante in the feminine and déterminants or déterminantes in the plural.

Other meanings

  • determinantnoun
  • determinernoun

Opposites

  • négligeablenegligibleadjective
  • insignifiantinsignificantadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word