causal

[ kaw-zuh l ]

/ ˈkɔ zəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR causal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, constituting, or implying a cause.

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

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of causal

1520–30; < Latin causālis, equivalent to caus(a) cause + -ālis -al¹

Related forms

caus·al·ly, adverbnon·caus·al, adjectivenon·caus·al·ly, adverbsu·per·caus·al, adjective

un·caus·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for causal

The connection between acts of “coming out” and the cultural acceptance of LGBT people has always been a causal one.
Now Is the Time to Come Out|Samantha Allen|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"The causal effects estimated in Meier et al. are likely to be overestimates and the true effect could be zero," Rogeberg wrote.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: July 27|PunditFact.com|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But as Justice Ginsberg pointed out in dissent, their causal nexus is so thin as to be basically nonexistent.
Why Hobby Lobby Will Be Bad for Conservatives|Jay Michaelson|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is also important to contextualize how many cases of autism could be accounted for if a causal link to SSRI proved true.
Expectant Moms, Don't Ditch SSRIs Over Autism Fears Just Yet|Emily Shire|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

More importantly, he suggests a causal mechanism—he interprets the past.
Why Big Data Doesn’t Live up to the Hype|Nick Romeo|January 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The causal organism, which has not yet been demonstrated, may occur in butter or cheese.
Outlines of dairy bacteriology|H. L. Russell
Yes, there must be a causal relation here, even though we are not able to understand the nature of the causal nexus.
Evolution|Joseph Le Conte
It comes furthermore into collision with the causal principle, for it is a purely speculative constructive view.
Collected Papers on Analytical Psychology|C. G. Jung
Causal beings see the difference between their bodies and thoughts to be merely ideas.
Autobiography of a YOGI|Paramhansa Yogananda
Standing alone, this causal judgment meant very little to you, so far as your knowledge of coffee was concerned.
Applied Psychology: Driving Power of Thought|Warren Hilton

British Dictionary definitions for causal

causal

/ (ˈkɔːzəl) /

adjective

acting as or being a cause

stating, involving, or implying a causethe causal part of the argument

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

Derived Formscausally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for causal

causal

adj.

1530s, from Latin causalis "relating to a cause," from causa (see cause (n.)).