determiner

Noun

determiner (plural determiners)

1. A factor that defines something, or one among several that define it.
   • Near-synonym: definer
   • In quality management, the determiners of quality sometimes differ across use cases.

   Synonyms:

   definer

2. Someone or something (especially a sentient agent) that determines; a decider of a disposition.
   • Near-synonyms: decider, decisor, disposer, definer, arbiter, arbitrator, decisionmaker
   • He is the determiner [usually referring to God (in theological contexts) and job roles (in administrative contexts)]

   Synonyms:

   decider, decisor, disposer, definer, arbiter, arbitrator, decisionmaker

3. A member of a class of words functioning in a noun phrase to identify or distinguish a referent without describing or modifying it.
   • Near-synonym: determinative (broadly synonymous)
   • Definite articles, indefinite articles, and cardinal numbers acting as quantifiers are types of determiners.

   Synonyms:

   determinative[Appendix:Glossary

4. A dependent function in a noun phrase that marks it as definite or indefinite. This function is usually filled by words in the determinative class but may be filled by other elements such as a genitive pronoun.
   • Near-synonym: determinative (broadly synonymous)
   • In the sentence "Many people voted for him," the word many is a determiner.

   Synonyms:

   determinative[Appendix:Glossary