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
This article has been updated to correct the attribution for a quote.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Build attribution models to justify budget allocation for all marketing campaigns and activities.
—Deboshree Sarkar, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The material has raised new questions about attribution in museum circles, though af Klint is still widely credited as sole author of the works.
—Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The rest of this article summarizes Woody’s comments without repetitive attribution.
—Joshua Stein, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
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Alex Sherman, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Build attribution models to justify budget allocation for all marketing campaigns and activities.
—Deboshree Sarkar, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The material has raised new questions about attribution in museum circles, though af Klint is still widely credited as sole author of the works.
—Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The rest of this article summarizes Woody’s comments without repetitive attribution.
—Joshua Stein, Forbes, 25 Mar. 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 2 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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