determiner — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Someone or something that determines, or helps to determine, something else. A factor that defines something, or one among several that define it.

   Synonyms

   definer

   Examples

   Near-synonym: definer

   In quality management, the determiners of quality sometimes differ across use cases.

   More examples (1)

   The "steel-yards" and "measures" were the only determiners of weight and quantity — as the hour-glass and sun dial were of time — possessed at first (so far as appears) by the passengers of the Pilgrim ship […]

2. Someone or something that determines, or helps to determine, something else. Someone or something (especially a sentient agent) that determines; a decider of a disposition.

   Synonyms

   deciderdecisordisposerdefinerarbiterarbitratordecisionmaker

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: decider, decisor, disposer, definer, arbiter, arbitrator, decisionmaker

   He is the determiner [usually referring to God (in theological contexts) and job roles (in administrative contexts)]

   More examples (2)

   Who is the determiner? [administratively or theologically]

   The software is the determiner if no input is given before the prompt times out.

3. A member of a class of words functioning in a noun phrase to identify or distinguish a referent without describing or modifying it.

   Synonyms

   determinative[Appendix:Glossary

   Broader terms

   function word

   Examples

   Near-synonym: determinative (broadly synonymous)

   Definite articles, indefinite articles, and cardinal numbers acting as quantifiers are types of determiners.

4. A dependent function in a noun phrase that marks it as definite or indefinite. This function is usually filled by words in the determinative class but may be filled by other elements such as a genitive pronoun.

   Synonyms

   determinative[Appendix:Glossary

   Examples

   Near-synonym: determinative (broadly synonymous)

   In the sentence "Many people voted for him," the word many is a determiner.

Noun

1. an argument that is conclusive

   Synonyms

   clincherdetermining factor

   Broader terms

   argumentstatement

2. one of a limited class of noun modifiers that determine the referents of noun phrases

   Synonyms

   determinative

   Broader terms

   function wordclosed-class word

3. a determining or causal element or factor

   Synonyms

   determinantdeterminativedetermining factorcausal factor

   Broader terms

   cognitive factor

   Examples

   education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life