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.
Origin of risk factor
First recorded in 1945–50
Words nearby risk factor
rising sign,
rising trot,
risk,
risk aversion,
risk capital,
risk factor,
risk life and limb,
risk management,
risk-averse,
risk-benefit,
risktaker
British Dictionary definitions for risk factor
risk factor
noun
med
a factor, such as a habit or an environmental condition, that predisposes an individual to develop a particular disease