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
This consistency strongly indicates that footwear technology is not merely a contributing factor, but a necessary one at the current limits of human performance.
—
New Atlas, 5 May 2026
Weakness in the tech industry was a contributing factor behind the slump in Bay Area hiring.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
According to the document, a pulmonary embolism — when a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow — was also a contributing factor.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The authors speculated that pesticides might be a contributing factor.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contributing factor
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New Atlas, 5 May 2026
Weakness in the tech industry was a contributing factor behind the slump in Bay Area hiring.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
According to the document, a pulmonary embolism — when a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow — was also a contributing factor.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The authors speculated that pesticides might be a contributing factor.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contributing factor
Cite this Entry
“Contributing factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contributing%20factor. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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