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 Formula 1 discovered is that expertise and confidence without structural accountability is a risk factor. — Jessica Vitiritti, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The American Association for Cancer Research's 2026 Cancer Progress Report, released earlier this month, noted that obesity is a major risk factor for many cancers. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

High blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke and heart failure, and it is linked to kidney disease, cognitive decline and dementia. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease — and midlife hormonal changes increase the chances of developing insulin resistance, which massively ups the chances of developing diabetes. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 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