attribution
noun
at·tri·bu·tion
ˌa-trə-ˈbyü-shən 
plural attributions
1
: the act of attributing something
especially
: the ascribing of a work (as of literature or art) to a particular author or artist
2
: an ascribed quality, character, or right
Supernatural powers were attributions of the gods.
3
psychology
: the interpretive process by which people make judgments about the causes of their own behavior and the behavior of others
Psychologists have long documented what they call the fundamental attribution error, the tendency for people to explain human behavior in terms of the traits of individual actors, even when powerful situational forces are at work.—
Erica Goode
Erica GoodeExamples of attribution in a Sentence
a genuine respect for one another is one of the most commonly cited attributions of a happily married couple
Recent Examples on the Web
As the pollster noted, respondents' choices could be an endorsement or an attribution of blame, depending on their assessment of current economic conditions.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
In some ways, attribution bias serves the purpose of promoting self-esteem, which helps people overcome challenges in life, White said.
—Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
The attribution graphs revealed a number of hidden issues.
—Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
For climate attribution scientists studying how much climate change is to blame for specific events, wildfire disasters are notoriously challenging to untangle, and local nuances are extremely important.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attribution
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Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
In some ways, attribution bias serves the purpose of promoting self-esteem, which helps people overcome challenges in life, White said.
—Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
The attribution graphs revealed a number of hidden issues.
—Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
For climate attribution scientists studying how much climate change is to blame for specific events, wildfire disasters are notoriously challenging to untangle, and local nuances are extremely important.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attribution
Cite this Entry
“Attribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attribution. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
attribution
noun
at·tri·bu·tion
ˌa-trə-ˈbyü-shən
: a rule in tax law that in certain cases deems property owned by one person or business entity to be owned by another or others
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