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REFERENCE

X factor

idiom
Meaning

An unknown or hard-to-define influence; a factor with unknown or unforeseeable consequences.


Examples
SIMPLE

Her unique voice is the X factor that makes her a star.

CONTEXTUAL

The team played well, but their new captain provided the X factor that led them to victory.

COMPLEX

While the candidate possessed all the necessary technical qualifications, it was his undeniable charisma that served as the decisive X factor during the final interview.

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    factor in

    To consider as a factor.

  2. 02

    factor space

    A space obtained from another by identification of points that are equivalent to one another in some equivalence relation.

  3. 03

    fudge factor

    A quantity introduced to compensate for uncertainty.

  4. 04

    gut factor

    The emotional dimension of decision-making. A person's subjective (often almost visceral) feelings about what is right or wrong, good or bad.

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