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

Other Word Forms

• causally adverb
• noncausal adjective
• noncausally adverb
• supercausal adjective
• uncausal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of causal¹

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

Example Sentences

While a few studies have suggested a possible association with acetaminophen in pregnancy, no causal link has ever been proven.

Read more on Barron's

“While an association between acetaminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature,” the letter signed by Makary said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The group did not determine a causal relationship between the drug and autism, or suggest barring the drug altogether, she said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"To be clear, while an association between acetaminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature," the FDA wrote.

Read more on BBC

It compared autistic children with their siblings to control for genetic factors, and found no evidence to support a causal link between autism and the use of the painkiller.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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