causal

[ kaw-zuhl ]

adjective

1. of, constituting, or implying a cause.
2. Grammar. expressing a cause, as the conjunctions because and since.

causal

/ ˈkɔːzəl /

adjective

1. acting as or being a cause
2. stating, involving, or implying a cause

   the causal part of the argument

3. philosophy (of a theory) explaining a phenomenon or analysing a concept in terms of some causal relation

Derived Forms

• ˈcausally, adverb

Other Words From

• causal·ly adverb
• non·causal adjective
• non·causal·ly adverb
• super·causal adjective
• un·causal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of causal¹

1520–30; < Latin causālis, equivalent to caus ( a ) cause + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

With this technique, they determined that 38 proteins are likely to have causal effects in Alzheimer's progression; 15 of these can be targeted by medicines.

From Science Daily

Although the study found an association between the initial proportion of shape-based nouns in a child's vocabulary and later language development, the researchers said further investigation is needed to establish a causal link.

From Science Daily

As with many rare phobias, causal factors for people with bananaphobia can be hard to determine, but experts say it can often stem from childhood.

From BBC

"Anecdotal reports can serve as important indicators of environmental health problems," she says, but stresses that without systematic data collection, establishing evidence of a causal relationship is difficult.

From BBC

Announcing the agreement, the UK government acknowledged there was "limited research and evidence on the causal impact that social media has on children and young people".

From BBC

Related Words

• creative
• imaginative
• innovative
• inventive
• seminal
• unconventional
• unusual