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

Smoking tobacco is the most significant risk factor, alongside others like air pollution, family history of lung cancer, and exposure to toxins at work. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 26 Sep. 2024

The new report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) named alcohol use as the third biggest controllable risk factor for cancer, after smoking and obesity. —Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 26 Sep. 2024

But the analyst said that outcome is already discounted within shares, meaning there’s not a large risk factor tied to earnings. —Alex Harring,fred Imbert, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2024

Thus, in my view, mental health treatment strategies should target every risk factor, including nutrition. —Mary Scourboutakos, Discover Magazine, 2 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

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