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
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said that there is no proof of a causal link between Tylenol use in pregnancy and a child’s diagnosis of autism.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Researchers have long failed to find a causal link between autism and any medication, and these days, most of them believe that a change in diagnostic criteria is largely behind the dramatic uptick in autism rates over the past 30 years.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
The company maintains that there is no causal link between prenatal Tylenol use and the development of autism.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
That said, the structure never feels random; there are obvious causal connections.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for causal
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Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Researchers have long failed to find a causal link between autism and any medication, and these days, most of them believe that a change in diagnostic criteria is largely behind the dramatic uptick in autism rates over the past 30 years.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
The company maintains that there is no causal link between prenatal Tylenol use and the development of autism.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
That said, the structure never feels random; there are obvious causal connections.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 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 16 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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