determinative
adjective
de·ter·mi·na·tive di-ˈtər-mə-ˌnā-tiv 
-ˈtər-mə-nə-
: having power or tendency to determine : tending to fix, settle, or define something
regard experiments as determinative of the principles from which deductions could be made
S. F. Mason
S. F. Mason determinative noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Who judges it, whose values, that is determinative. New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 No single factor is determinative, and all facts and circumstances should be considered. Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 1 July 2022 And if the raw number of popular votes were determinative, the two most recent Republican Presidents wouldn’t have been seated; George W. Bush and Trump both lost the popular vote. Philip Elliott, Time, 12 Apr. 2022 The order of the early states is highly determinative in which candidate becomes the Democratic nominee. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2022 There isn’t a single determinative test, Cohen said, but a driver’s license, cable bill, W-2, or car registration listing the address would each suffice. The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2022 While the Jazz certainly could make use of more rangy, switchable, 3-and-D wings, the coming trade deadline will probably be determinative of his future. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Jan. 2022 Controls will need to be added on corporate announcements of earnings, mergers, and other determinative financial status reports so that the market is volatile during the day and not in the middle of the night. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Dec. 2021 In Middle English, the term referred to the determinative phase of an illness, the point from which one either recovers to health or declines to death. Spencer Strub, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2020 See More
New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 No single factor is determinative, and all facts and circumstances should be considered. Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 1 July 2022 And if the raw number of popular votes were determinative, the two most recent Republican Presidents wouldn’t have been seated; George W. Bush and Trump both lost the popular vote. Philip Elliott, Time, 12 Apr. 2022 The order of the early states is highly determinative in which candidate becomes the Democratic nominee. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2022 There isn’t a single determinative test, Cohen said, but a driver’s license, cable bill, W-2, or car registration listing the address would each suffice. The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2022 While the Jazz certainly could make use of more rangy, switchable, 3-and-D wings, the coming trade deadline will probably be determinative of his future. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Jan. 2022 Controls will need to be added on corporate announcements of earnings, mergers, and other determinative financial status reports so that the market is volatile during the day and not in the middle of the night. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Dec. 2021 In Middle English, the term referred to the determinative phase of an illness, the point from which one either recovers to health or declines to death. Spencer Strub, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1655, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
determinative
adjective
de·ter·mi·na·tive di-ˈtər-mə-ˌnā-tiv, -nə-tiv
: having the power or tendency to determine
a fact determinative of the issue
determinative
adjective
as in dispositive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dispositive
- determinate
- indisputable
- incontestable
- unquestionable
- deciding
- decisive
- irrefutable
- conclusive
- indubitable
- incontrovertible
- undeniable
- inarguable
- undebatable
- unanswerable
- undisputable
- definitive
- undisputed
- last
- uncontested
- unambiguous
- unequivocal
- absolute
- hands-down
- unchallenged
- definite
- clear
- positive
- persuasive
- convincing
- sure
- compelling
- cogent
- telling
- certain
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unclear
- doubtful
- problematical
- problematic
- debatable
- inconclusive
- questionable
- ambiguous
- disputable
- moot
- indecisive
- equivocal
- disputed
- refutable
- controversial
- doubtable
- debated
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of determinative are conclusive, decisive, and definitive. While all these words mean "bringing to an end," determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.
the determinative factor in the court's decision
The words conclusive and determinative can be used in similar contexts, but conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.
conclusive evidence
Although the words decisive and determinative have much in common, decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.
a decisive battle
While in some cases nearly identical to determinative, definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.
the definitive biography
- disedges
- disedging
- disedification
- disedify
- diselenide
- disematism
- disembalm
- disembark
- disembarkation
- disembarkations
- disembarked
- disembarking
- disembarkments
- disembarks
- disembarrass
- disembarrassed
- disembarrasses
- disembarrassing
- disembarrassment
- disembarrassments
- disembellish
- disembodied
- disembodies
- disembodiment
- disembodiments