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multifactorial

multifactorial

1 7.5
Several different things work together to cause a condition, like genes and lifestyle
  • adjective
  • /ˌmʌltiˈfæktɔriəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : multifactorial
  • In summary, it is generally conceded that chronic external otitis is a multifactorial disorder.
  • multifactorial disorder
  • multifactorial disease
  • complex multifactorial

It doesn't mean the diet is their only 'cause they're famously multifactorial conditions.

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Examples

  • Chagas disease is a multifactorial illness that has a complex time course.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Clubfoot is a complex multifactorial deformity; both genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Autism is a little bit complicated because, you know, it's a multifactorial disease.

  • The development of literacy relies on many skills; it is multifactorial and complex.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Falls in older adults mainly occur in or around the home, and their cause is often multifactorial.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The etiology of Mnire disease is thought to be multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Whereas the etiologies of chronic diseases are usually considered multifactorial, daily diet is one of these influential factors.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Chronic pelvic pain is complicated and multifactorial, and some women will have coexisting causes.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common, multifactorial, functional gastrointestinal disorders seen in primary care.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Autism is a little bit complicated because it is a multifactorial disease influenced by various genetic and environmental factors.

Synonyms

multifactor
vsmultifactorial
5.1

Has several different causes or parts

focuses on dependence and interaction of causes often in medical or genetic contexts

Antonyms

unifactorial
  • Specialized
9.4

Having a single cause

How Many

overdetermination
  • Formal
9.9
multifactorial
  • Specialized
1 7.5
unifactorial
  • Specialized
9.4

Surface Forms

multifactorial positive

Morphology

multifactorial = factorial (semi-transparent) = multi + factor + ial

The word is transparently built from 'multi-' plus 'factorial', but the base adjective 'factorial' is technical and less familiar to many learners.

Etymology

The word multifactorial is made of the parts multi- 'many' and factor 'something that helps cause something', and you already know the simple word factor in English. So, multifactorial means 'caused by many different things', for example a disease that comes from both genes and lifestyle, like a picture made from many puzzle pieces that together show the whole image.