attribute

[ verb uh-trib-yoot; noun a-truh-byoot ]

verb (used with object)

, at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing.

1. to regard as resulting from a specified cause; consider as caused by something indicated (usually followed by to ):

   She attributed his bad temper to ill health.

2. to consider as a quality or characteristic of the person, thing, group, etc., indicated:

   He attributed intelligence to his colleagues.

3. to consider as made by the one indicated, especially with strong evidence but in the absence of conclusive proof:

   to attribute a painting to an artist.

4. to regard as produced by or originating in the time, period, place, etc., indicated; credit; assign:

   to attribute a work to a particular period; to attribute a discovery to a particular country.

noun

1. something attributed as belonging to a person, thing, group, etc.; a quality, character, characteristic, or property:

   Sensitivity is one of his attributes.

2. something used as a symbol of a particular person, office, or status:

   A scepter is one of the attributes of a king.

3. Grammar. a word or phrase that is syntactically subordinate to another and serves to limit, identify, particularize, describe, or supplement the meaning of the form with which it is in construction. In the red house, red is an attribute of house.
4. Fine Arts. an object associated with or symbolic of a character, office, or quality, as the keys of St. Peter or the lion skin of Hercules.
5. Philosophy. (in the philosophy of Spinoza) any of the essential qualifications of God, thought and extension being the only ones known. Compare mode ¹( def 4b ).
6. Logic. (in a proposition) that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject.
7. Obsolete. distinguished character; reputation.

attribute

/ ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃən /

verb

1. trusually foll byto to regard as belonging (to), produced (by), or resulting (from); ascribe (to)

   to attribute a painting to Picasso

noun

1. a property, quality, or feature belonging to or representative of a person or thing
2. an object accepted as belonging to a particular office or position
3. grammar
   1. an adjective or adjectival phrase
   2. an attributive adjective
4. logic the property, quality, or feature that is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition

Derived Forms

• atˈtributable, adjective
• atˈtributer, noun
• attribution, noun

Other Words From

• at·trib·ut·a·ble adjective
• at·trib·ut·er at·trib·u·tor noun
• mis·at·trib·ute verb misattributed misattributing
• re·at·trib·ute verb (used with object) reattributed reattributing
• un·at·trib·ut·a·bly adverb
• un·at·trib·ut·ed adjective
• well-at·trib·ut·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attribute¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin attribūtus “allotted, assigned, imputed to” (past participle of attribuere ), equivalent to at- “toward” + tribū- (stem of tribuere “to assign (to tribes), classify, ascribe”; at-, tribe ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of attribute¹

C15: from Latin attribuere to associate with, from tribuere to give

Synonym Study

Attribute, ascribe, impute imply definite origin. Attribute and ascribe are often used interchangeably, to imply that something originates with a definite person or from a definite cause. Ascribe, however, has neutral implications; whereas, possibly because of an association with tribute, attribute is coming to have a complimentary connotation: to ascribe an accident to carelessness; to attribute one's success to a friend's encouragement. Impute has gained uncomplimentary connotations, and usually means to accuse or blame someone or something as a cause or origin: to impute an error to him. See quality.

Example Sentences

“I attribute a lot of my success to that.”

From Salon

Many Democrats attribute part of Harris’ loss to sexism.

From Los Angeles Times

California has the designation of being the slowest state to count and tally the ballots of its more than 22 million registered voters, which election officials attribute to the extra time it takes to ensure ballots are valid.

From Los Angeles Times

Many analysts attribute the disconnect to two key elements: One is bad memories of high inflation especially in 2022, which means that prices for groceries and other goods, while now growing far more modestly, remain on the whole about 20% higher than before the pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times

Many people attribute some cosmic significance to voting: “Tell me how you voted, and I will tell you who you are” seems to be the modern iteration of Carl Schmitt’s aphorism.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aspect
• characteristic
• facet
• idiosyncrasy
• peculiarity
• quality
• quirk
• trait
• virtue