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.

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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

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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

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal

"Our work provides cell type-specific maps of gene regulation in the Alzheimer's brain, shifting the field from observing correlations to uncovering the causal mechanisms that actively drive disease progression."

From Science Daily

It will be co-ordinated with local probes into whether there was a causal link between the contaminated formula and the deaths of three babies in France.

From BBC

They conclude: "These findings provide supportive evidence for continued investment in HEMS, particularly for severely injured patients, though comparative studies with alternative care pathways are needed to establish causal effectiveness."

From Science Daily

Their findings showed that higher body weight is not simply associated with dementia but plays a causal role in its development.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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