adjective
-
acting as or being a cause
-
stating, involving, or implying a cause
the causal part of the argument
-
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their findings showed that higher body weight is not simply associated with dementia but plays a causal role in its development.
From Science Daily
In 2024, he told US senators "the existing body of scientific work has not shown any causal link between social media and young people having worse mental health outcomes".
From BBC
"CTE contributed to his death significantly," said Prof Stewart, adding that the only available causal evidence was exposure to repeated impacts - heading a football.
From BBC
Milly's parents came to suspect the hospital water system was the source of the infection, but the health board insisted it was not possible to establish a causal link.
From BBC
At this time, there was no established causal link between the formula and their deaths, according to French authorities.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
