Word
predetermined
Phoneticspre·de·ter·mined
US/ˌpɹidiˈtɝmɪnd/
UK/pɹɪdɪtˈɜːmɪnd/
Definition
adj. decided or settled in advance so that it cannot be changed later.
adj. established or decided beforehand; often used to describe outcomes that appear fixed by fate or prior planning.
Examples
“The winner of the game seemed predetermined.”
“The software follows a predetermined set of instructions to process the data automatically.”
“Critics argued that the committee's final decision was predetermined by political interests long before the public hearings actually took place.”
Examples
simple
“The winner of the game seemed predetermined.”
contextual
“The software follows a predetermined set of instructions to process the data automatically.”
complex
“Critics argued that the committee's final decision was predetermined by political interests long before the public hearings actually took place.”
Usage
Typically used as a participial adjective; often follows a linking verb or precedes a noun.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“The therapists followed the patients rather than steering them toward a predetermined insight.” “Drivers whose jobs relied on fixed or predetermined routes , like bus drivers and aircraft pilots, didn’t seem to experience a similar advantage.” Etymology
From pre- + determined.
From predetermine + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/predetermined