plural determinations
1
: a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult
What he lacked in talent he made up for in determination.
dogged/fierce/steely/stubborn determination
—often followed by to + verbWe all respected her fierce determination to succeed.
2
formal
: the act of finding out or calculating something
age determinations
—often + ofThey were unable to make an accurate determination of the ship's position.
The new instruments allow for more precise determination of the size of the tumor.
3
formal
: the act of officially deciding something
The document will be used for determination of ownership.
judicial determinations
The inspectors made the determination that the building was unsafe. [=they determined/decided that the building was unsafe]
Cite this Entry
“Determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/determination. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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