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/inThe 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
Impairment was not a contributing factor in the collision, according to police.
—
Aidan Wohl, The Arizona Republic, 2 Sep. 2023
The deal prior to Wednesday's court session included an acknowledgement that drug use was a contributing factor in his gun possession charge.
—Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 26 July 2023
The officials added that a contributing factor to the behavior problems is that — like other college students around the country — many more cadets and midshipmen are arriving at the academies with previous bad experiences, ranging from assaults and harassment to thoughts of or attempts at suicide.
—Lolita C. Baldor, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2023
In fact, driver drowsiness is a contributing factor in up to 24 percent of all crashes and near crashes, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
—Oliver Broudy, Men's Health, 17 Aug. 2023
Eric Meyer said the coroner had concluded that the stress of the searches was a contributing factor in her death.
—Kevin Draper, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
Scenes From the Ash-Colored Streets of Maui Experts warn that extreme weather conditions and disasters like this wildfire will occur more frequently and with greater intensity due to climate change, though that is not the only contributing factor at hand.
—Solcyre Burga, Time, 15 Aug. 2023
This can be particularly beneficial for dogs with IBS, as inflammation is often a contributing factor to their symptoms.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2023
Experts also said that climate change was increasing the likelihood of more extreme weather and that the changing landscape of unmanaged, nonnative grasslands from declining agriculture is a contributing factor to fire risks.
—Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023
See More
Aidan Wohl, The Arizona Republic, 2 Sep. 2023
The deal prior to Wednesday's court session included an acknowledgement that drug use was a contributing factor in his gun possession charge.
—Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 26 July 2023
The officials added that a contributing factor to the behavior problems is that — like other college students around the country — many more cadets and midshipmen are arriving at the academies with previous bad experiences, ranging from assaults and harassment to thoughts of or attempts at suicide.
—Lolita C. Baldor, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2023
In fact, driver drowsiness is a contributing factor in up to 24 percent of all crashes and near crashes, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
—Oliver Broudy, Men's Health, 17 Aug. 2023
Eric Meyer said the coroner had concluded that the stress of the searches was a contributing factor in her death.
—Kevin Draper, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
Scenes From the Ash-Colored Streets of Maui Experts warn that extreme weather conditions and disasters like this wildfire will occur more frequently and with greater intensity due to climate change, though that is not the only contributing factor at hand.
—Solcyre Burga, Time, 15 Aug. 2023
This can be particularly beneficial for dogs with IBS, as inflammation is often a contributing factor to their symptoms.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2023
Experts also said that climate change was increasing the likelihood of more extreme weather and that the changing landscape of unmanaged, nonnative grasslands from declining agriculture is a contributing factor to fire risks.
—Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contributing factor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Contributing factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contributing%20factor. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
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