What does determinating mean?
Determinating is the present participle and gerund form associated with the verb 'to determine', meaning to establish, decide, or ascertain something definitively. It can describe the process of working out a fact, fixing a course of action, or settling a question beyond doubt — for example, determining the cause of an accident or determining the terms of a contract. Although logically derived from 'determine', the form 'determinating' is rare in modern usage and is generally regarded as nonstandard; standard English overwhelmingly prefers 'determining'. The verb itself traces back through Old French 'determiner' to Latin 'determinare', from 'de-' (indicating completion) and 'terminare' (to set bounds), sharing its root with words like terminal and terminate. Readers encountering 'determinating' today will most often find it in older documents, regional writing, or informal contexts, where 'determining' would be the expected choice.
verb (present participle and gerund of 'determine')Present participle or gerund of the verb 'determine': the act of establishing, deciding, or ascertaining something definitively. In older or technical usage it can also mean causing or fixing something in place.
- The act of deciding or settling something conclusively (gerund/participle of 'determine').
- (Archaic or technical) Causing or fixing something; bringing something to an end or limit.
"The committee spent weeks determinating the exact scope of the inquiry."
"Determinating the cause of the failure took engineers several months."
"The court was tasked with determinating liability in the dispute."
If you've written 'determinating', you're in good company — but English long ago settled on 'determining' instead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of determinating
The word derives from the verb 'determine', which entered Middle English from Old French 'determiner' and ultimately from Latin 'determinare', composed of 'de-' (expressing completion) and 'terminare' (to mark out boundaries), from 'terminus' meaning limit or boundary. The '-ate' suffix reflects the Latin first-conjugation ending carried into English. Cognates include French 'déterminer' and Spanish 'determinar'. The participial variant 'determinating' follows the regular pattern for '-ate' verbs but was largely displaced by 'determining' over time.
Related word forms
How determinating is actually used
'Determinating' is widely considered nonstandard in modern English; 'determining' is the accepted present participle and gerund of 'determine'. It appears occasionally in older texts and legal or technical writing.
Easily confused with determinating
'Determinating' is a rare or nonstandard variant; standard English uses 'determining' as the present participle of 'determine'.