coefficient

/ˌkəʊɪˈfɪʃənt/ noun [C]

Definition

› in mathematics, a value that appears in front of and multiplies another value: In 2x + 4y = 7, 2 is the coefficient of x.

› a number or a method of calculating a number that measures the characteristics of a process, event, material, etc.: The calculation is based on a measure of inequality in disposable income called the Gini coefficient. The coefficient of diversification measures the extent to which a stock portfolio has been diversified.

(Definition of coefficient noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)