risk factor

noun

a condition, behavior, or other factor that increases risk.
Smoking is a major risk factor for cancer;
depression as a risk factor in suicide.

risk factor

noun

med a factor, such as a habit or an environmental condition, that predisposes an individual to develop a particular disease

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Word History and Origins

Origin of risk factor¹

First recorded in 1945–50

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

According to the BHF data, there has been an 11% rise in the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

From

Age is the most common risk factor, the CDC says.

From

The authors of the study compare CT scans with alcohol consumption, which is another risk factor for cancer.

From

That difference at the cellular level is important, because women tend to have more salt-sensitive hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, than men, especially in the menopausal phase.

From

"This view is now seen as outdated, and psychological trauma is now viewed as a risk factor for developing the condition rather than the root cause."

From

risk capital risk life and limb

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