What does "coefficient" mean?
A constant by which an algebraic term is multiplied.
Coefficient
/ˌkoʊ.ɪˈfɪʃənt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A constant by which an algebraic term is multiplied.
- Grammar: coefficient is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: argument, bimli, causal influence, coacting.
- Useful contrasts: no effect, variable.
- Usage evidence: We assessed reliability using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and validity using the correlation analysis.
How to use "coefficient"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "coefficient" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "coefficient" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "coefficient" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "coefficient" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "coefficient" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "argument" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "coefficient", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A constant by which an algebraic term is multiplied.
- 2 a constant number that serves as a measure of some property or characteristic wordnet
- 3 An entry of a matrix.
"Notice that many of the terms of the matrices [Sᵉ] (e = 1, 2, 3) vanish. We call the non-vanishing coefficients of the matrix [Sᵉ] the stiffness coefficients of element e and we denote them by Kᵣₛᵉ."
- 4 A number, value, or item that serves as a measure of some property or characteristic.
"Near-synonym: constant"
Adjective
- 1 Cooperating.
"And so our own idea of Christ compels us to admit that two factors, the one natural, the other supernatural, were coefficient in his entrance into human life;"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
no effectvariable
Example
"We assessed reliability using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and validity using the correlation analysis."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "coefficient"?
Common synonyms include: argument, bimli, causal influence, coacting, coactive, coadjutant.
How do you use "coefficient" in a sentence?
We assessed reliability using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and validity using the correlation analysis.
How do you pronounce "coefficient"?
Pronounced /ˌkoʊ.ɪˈfɪʃənt/.
Etymology
From French coefficient. Coined by French mathematician François Viète. Or influenced by (New) Latin coefficient-, which is the stem of coefficiens, which is a substantivation of the present active participle of coefficio, which comes from co- and efficio.