2
: of, relating to, or constituting a cause
the causal agent of a disease
3
: involving causation or a cause : marked by cause and effect
a causal link
evidence suggests that there is a strong causal relationship between an individual's experiences with his parents and his later capacity to make affectional bonds—
G. A. Miller
G. A. Miller4
: arising from a cause
a causal development
Examples of causal in a Sentence
No causal connection between the events was found.
There is a causal link between poverty and crime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Expert consensus is that there is no scientific evidence of a causal nor correlational link between antidepressants and violence toward others.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Her position is consistent with decades of research that show no causal connection.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Multiple public-health researchers and clinicians have added that prior studies did not establish a causal link between SSRI use and mass shootings.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Mental illness is a strong causal factor in suicides, studies show, but only about 3% to 4% of violent acts are attributable to serious mental illness alone, Swanson’s research showed.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for causal
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Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Her position is consistent with decades of research that show no causal connection.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Multiple public-health researchers and clinicians have added that prior studies did not establish a causal link between SSRI use and mass shootings.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Mental illness is a strong causal factor in suicides, studies show, but only about 3% to 4% of violent acts are attributable to serious mental illness alone, Swanson’s research showed.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for causal
Cite this Entry
“Causal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/causal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
causal
adjective
caus·al
ˈkȯ-zəl 
: of, relating to, or being a cause
Legal Definition
causal
adjective
caus·al
ˈkȯ-zəl
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a cause
causal negligence
2
: involving causation or a cause
no causal relationship between driving without insurance and the accident—National Law Journal
National Law Journala causal link exists between the deceptive act and the injury—National Law Journal
National Law Journal3
: arising from a cause
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