Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "sakin factor" yana nufin wani hormone ko wani abu da ke motsa sakin wani hormone daga glandan pituitary. Musamman ma, abubuwan da ake saki sune manzannin sinadarai waɗanda hypothalamus ke ɓoye kuma suna aiki akan glandar pituitary na baya don tada sakin hormones kamar hormone girma, hormone thyroid-stimulating, da follicle-stimulating hormone. Hakanan za'a iya amfani da kalmar "releasing factor" a sarari don komawa ga duk wani abu da ke haifar da sakin wani abu ko aiki.