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

attributional

ˌa-trə-ˈbyü-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of attribution

• attribute
• characteristic
• feature
• quality
• trait
• criterion

Examples 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

By leveraging creators who speak the specific visual language of niche communities, brands are seeing higher attribution rates and more genuine authority in their recommendations. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 May 2026

Candida auris, Valley fever and other climate-sensitive fungal infections are expanding rapidly, yet the mechanistic data needed for attribution studies barely exist. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

These capabilities will form an interoperable infrastructure that integrates with existing buy-side tools while establishing a consistent framework for attribution, optimization, and performance measurement across premium video. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 May 2026

Ugail was in the news several years ago for his controversial claim that Raphael had painted a work whose attribution had long been contested. —Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

see attribute entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for attribution

• absolution
• allocution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution
• elocution

Legal 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