attributable

American  

[uh-trib-yoo-tuh-buhl] / əˈtrɪb yʊ tə bəl /

adjective

1. able to be considered the result of the cause indicated.

   Its success in becoming one of the most livable urban environments is attributable to a bold long-term vision, expressed in unconventional planning decisions.

2. able to be considered a quality or characteristic of the person, thing, group, etc., indicated.

   To eliminate variability in brain measurements attributable to gender, only males were included in this study.

3. able to be considered the work or action of the person or group indicated.

   Statements in this blog are made solely by the author and are not attributable to the law firm for which she works.

4. able to be considered a product of the indicated period, culture, etc..

   The theme for performances at the carnival is anything attributable to the 16th century—any art, science, game, martial activity, or cuisine.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonattributable adjective
• unattributable adjective

Etymology

Origin of attributable

attribut(e) ( def. ) + -able ( def. )

Explanation

The adjective attributable describes something that is capable of indicating or explaining a cause. Just because your parent found small fingerprints on the fridge and a chair against the counter, it does not mean the mess in the kitchen is attributable to you — it just seems like it! Attributable comes from the Latin word attribuere, meaning assign or bestow. Attributable is related to the words attribute, which is both a noun and a verb, and attributions, which is a noun. You latest promotion is attributable to your hard work. You work ethic is one of your best attributes, and you can attribute that to the way your parents raised you.

Example Sentences

"Hybrid warfare" is when a hostile state carries out an anonymous, deniable attack, usually in highly suspicious circumstances, but stops short of being an attributable act of war.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Sheldon Jacobson, an engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a regular commentator on the aviation industry, tells me that the capacity issues are directly attributable to the lack of TSA pay.

From Slate • Mar. 24, 2026

Much of the stocks’ woes were attributable to AI start-up Anthropic’s agent software.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

They speculate some of the decrease could be attributable to some declining demand stemming from recent winter storms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Its horrors are not attributable to one single person.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• detectable
• identifiable