multifactorial
nounEtymology From multi- + factorial.
1
Mathematics, Sciences A generalization of a factorial in which each element to be multiplied differs from the next by an integer (e.g. n(n-3)(n-6)(n-9)...).
- Related terms
- monofactorial
multifactorial
adjEtymology From multi- + factorial.
1
Involving, or controlled by multiple factors.
- […] a pattern in medical research on infectious and degenerative diseases in the United States. That pattern shows three main built-in biases: 1) towards a single-agent theory of disease, as opposed to a multi-factorial analysis; 2) […]1989 August 19, Bob Lederer, “Hiding Behind HIV”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 6, page 8:
- One of the under-reported dynamics during the coronavirus pandemic has been the collapse of One Nation’s vote. The reasons for this are likely multi-factorial.2021 February 2, Katharine Murphy, The Guardian, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2022:
1 more example
- “Neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular, are multifactorial and very difficult to associate with a singular cause. Pregnant patients should not be frightened away from the many benefits of acetaminophen, which is safe and one of the few options pregnant people have for pain relief.”2025 September 12, Jacqueline Howard, Deidre McPhillips, “In meeting with RFK Jr., CEO of Tylenol maker stresses there is no clear link between medication and autism, WSJ reports”, in CNN, archived from the original on 02 Oct 2025:
- Derived terms
- multifactoriality, multifactorially