multifactorial

adjective

mul·​ti·​fac·​to·​ri·​al ˌməl-tē-fak-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

-ˌtī-

1

: caused or marked by a polygenic mode of inheritance dependent on a number of genes at different loci

The essence of multifactorial (polygenic) inheritance is that a single component of the phenotype (a single character) can be controlled by several independent gene loci.

—Ernst Mayr

also : caused by or dependent on the interaction of multiple genes combined with one or more environmental factors

Breast cancer is what scientists call "multifactorial" in that a variety of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors are thought to play a role.

—Francesca Lyman

2

or multifactor

ˌməl-tē-ˈfak-tər 

-ˌtī-

: having, involving, or produced by a variety of elements or causes

a multifactorial approach

multifactor authentication

Ligament damage, particularly in a throwing arm, is a complex, multifactorial process.

—Matt McCarthy

multifactorially

ˌməl-tē-fak-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-lē 

-ˌtī-

adverb

Examples of multifactorial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In other words, reputations are as nuanced, complex, multifactorial, deep and fragile as human beings are. —Davia Temin, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

The exact cause is complex and multifactorial, involving genetic mutations (only about 20 percent), lifestyle factors (such as diet and physical activity, poor sleep), environmental exposures, and chronic inflammation. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024

Similarly, in policing, Harvard economist Roland Fryer’s multifactorial analysis, which included controls for the behavior of suspects and racial groups’ rate of contact with police, concluded that white suspects are actually 27 percent more likely than black suspects to be shot by cops . . . —Wilfred Reilly, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024

Lupus is often referred to as a multifactorial disease, meaning it’s driven by more than one underlying issue. —Markham Heid, TIME, 27 Dec. 2023

The connection between genes and capacity is complex and multifactorial, as work in human genomics continues to show. —Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024

Strategies to increasing hearing aid use are multifactorial, from training more audiologists to implementing accessible hearing assessments, according to both Lin and Backous. —Dr. Angela Zhang, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2024

The good news is that understanding obesity as a multifactorial disease opens up new avenues for treatment and prevention. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023

Many mental illnesses present in young adulthood — and their causes are certainly multifactorial. —Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

multifactorial

adjective

mul·​ti·​fac·​to·​ri·​al -fak-ˈtōr-ē-əl, -ˈtȯr- 

1

: caused or marked by a polygenic mode of inheritance dependent on a number of genes at different loci

The essence of multifactorial (polygenic) inheritance is that a single component of the phenotype (a single character) can be controlled by several independent gene loci.

—Ernst Mayr

also : caused by or dependent on the interaction of multiple genes combined with one or more environmental factors

Breast cancer is what scientists call "multifactorial" in that a variety of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors are thought to play a role.

—Francesca Lyman

2

or multifactor

-ˈfak-tər 

: having, involving, or produced by a variety of elements or causes

a multifactorial study

a disease with a multifactorial etiology

Ligament damage, particularly in a throwing arm, is a complex, multifactorial process.

—Matt McCarthy

multifactorially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

multifactoriality

-ˌtōr-ē-ˈal-ət-ē, -ˌtȯr- 

noun

plural multifactorialities