a numerical or constant factor in an algebraic term: the coefficient of the term 3xyz is 3 a value that relates one physical quantity to another
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
co•ef•fi•cient
(kō′ə fish′ənt),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
co′ef•fi′cient•ly, adv.
- Mathematicsa number or quantity placed (generally) before and multiplying another quantity, as 3 in the expression 3x.
- Physicsa number that is constant for a given substance, body, or process under certain specified conditions, serving as a measure of one of its properties:coefficient of friction.
adj.
- acting in consort;
cooperating.
- Neo-Latin coefficient- (stem of coefficiēns). See co-, efficient
- 1655–65
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'coefficient' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Invar
- Platinite
- absolute viscosity
- absorption coefficient
- absorption edge
- acceleration coefficient
- accelerator
- beta
- beta coefficient
- bimetal
- binomial coefficient
- block coefficient
- bulk modulus
- characteristic equation
- characteristic velocity
- coefficient of acceleration
- coefficient of correlation
- coefficient of drag
- coefficient of elasticity
- coefficient of expansion
- coefficient of fineness
- coefficient of performance
- coefficient of restitution
- coefficient of variation
- coefficient of viscosity
- compliance
- contingency
- cop
- correlation coefficient
- covariance
- derivative
- differential coefficient
- drag coefficient
- dynamic viscosity
- electric susceptibility
- expansivity
- fluidity
- imaginary part
- kinematic viscosity
- leading coefficient
- longitudinal coefficient
- magnetic coefficient
- magnetic susceptibility
- modulus
- modulus of elasticity
- monic
- permeability
- phenol coefficient
- polytetrafluoroethylene
- prismatic coefficient