contributing factor

noun

: something that helps cause a result

According to the police report of the accident, excessive speed was a contributing factor.

—often + to/in

The coach's positive attitude was a contributing factor to/in the team's success.

Examples of contributing factor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Speeding has been a major contributing factor in Long Beach’s recent rash of fatal crashes. — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

When a patient has both measles and another immediate cause of death, several considerations come into play when infectious disease specialists are determining whether the virus was a contributing factor. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

The end of the moratorium on student loan payments is another contributing factor. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

That was a decision Leavitt would later explain as the main contributing factor to her departure. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for contributing factor

• acter
• actor
• tractor
• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor
• contractor
• distractor
• extractor
• impactor
• protractor