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

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

From 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.

From 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.

From BBC

The announcement was met with dismay from autism researchers and advocates who said that research thus far into causal links between acetaminophen and autism has turned up minimal evidence.

From Los Angeles Times

"There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship," said Monique Botha, a professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University.

From BBC

Related Words

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