causal

American  

[kaw-zuhl] / ˈkɔ zəl /

adjective

1. of, constituting, or implying a cause.

2. Grammar. expressing a cause, as the conjunctions because and since.

---

causal British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of causal

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

Explanation

Have you ever heard the saying "One thing leads to another"? When one thing is known for certain to cause another thing, then the first thing can be called causal. Causal is a variation of the word cause, which should be a clue to its meaning. A cause is what makes something happen: the notebook flew across the room because you threw it, so your throwing it was causal. If a bolt of lightning set a statue on fire, the lightning was causal for the fire. Sometimes, we don't know what caused something, so we don't know what was causal. But if you can figure out "Who did it?" or "What did it?," then you've found what's causal.

Example Sentences

We must confront the causal factors of antisemitism honestly and address antisemitism where it is most common and most virulent.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Although current evidence suggests microplastics could worsen conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, the authors emphasize that additional studies are needed to confirm a direct causal link.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

Critics add that the causal link between social media and teen mental-health problems remains unproven.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

There is a strong causal link between saturated fat intake and heart health.

From Slate • Jan. 28, 2026

But a skilled practitioner can use it to tell how meaningful a correlation is—and maybe even tell whether that correlation does indicate a causal relationship.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Related Words

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