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

Cancer feels too consequential to attribute to background risk, chance, or multifactorial vulnerability, so jurors and the public naturally search for a concrete cause. — Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026

The nosedive in trust in journalism is multifactorial, and journalists themselves are not without blame. — Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026

The cause is multifactorial, with a major factor being autonomic nervous system dysfunction, where nerve signaling to the salivary glands to produce saliva is impaired. — Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 2 May 2026

Serdenes says the reason why is multifactorial and includes economic, historical and social factors like healthcare access, systemic racism, historical trauma and socioeconomic barriers. — Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for multifactorial

• categorial
• curatorial
• dictatorial
• directorial
• editorial
• equatorial
• immemorial
• infusorial
• janitorial
• professorial
• reportorial
• senatorial

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