# predetermined

/ˌpɹidiˈtɝmɪnd/ (US) · /pɹɪdɪtˈɜːmɪnd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/predetermined
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

decided or settled in advance so that it cannot be changed later.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as a participial adjective; often follows a linking verb or precedes a noun.

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