Synonyms: causal factor, determinant, determinative, determiner, determining factor
Definition: a determining or causal element or factor
Usage: education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life
Similar words: cognitive factor
Definition: something immaterial (as a circumstance or influence) that contributes to producing a result
Synonyms: determinative, determiner
Definition: one of a limited class of noun modifiers that determine the referents of noun phrases
Similar words: function word, closed-class word
Definition: a word that is uninflected and serves a grammatical function but has little identifiable meaning
Synonyms: deciding, determinant, determinative, determining
Definition: having the power or quality of deciding
Usage: the crucial experiment; cast the deciding vote; the determinative (or determinant) battle
Similar words: decisive
Definition: determining or having the power to determine an outcome
Usage: cast the decisive vote; two factors had a decisive influence