risk factor

noun

: something that increases risk or susceptibility

Examples of risk factor in a Sentence

Age is one of the risk factors for this disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

What looks like a communications problem at the diplomatic level becomes a risk factor in the political economy of Europe itself. —Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Initiatives include things like reducing sodium in the food supply (given excess salt in food is a driver of hypertension), and expanding health care initiatives focused on diabetes prevention, obesity treatment, and financial incentives to achieve cardiovascular risk factor reduction. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026

Having a body weight that is classified as overweight or obese is a risk factor for high blood pressure and heart disease. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026

Geopolitically, the fragmentation of global trade landscapes remains a primary risk factor. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for risk factor

• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor
• contractor
• distractor
• extractor
• impactor
• protractor
• reactor
• redactor
• refractor

Kids Definition

risk factor

noun

: something that increases the possibility that something bad will happen

cigarette smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer

Medical Definition

risk factor

noun

: something that increases risk or susceptibility

poorly controlled hypertension is a risk factor for coronary heart disease