causal

adjective

caus·​al ˈkȯ-zəl 

1

: expressing or indicating cause : causative

a causal clause introduced by since

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

4

: arising from a cause

a causal development

causally

ˈkȯ-zə-lē 

adverb

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

As individual devices or sensors can be hacked fairly easily, the responsibility for maintaining accurate and trustworthy information about time and causal order will fall increasingly on large digital infrastructure nodes. —Petar Popovski, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2025

So no causal relationships can be confirmed, despite the robustness of the research. —New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025

Consciousness can be explained in purely physical, functional, and causal terms. —Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025

Researchers at the UConn Center on Aging have uncovered causal links between depression and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD), sparking hope for potential interventions to prevent the disease. —Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin causālis, from Latin causa cause entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for causal

• clausal
• nozzle
• tahsil
• menopausal
• postmenopausal
• premenopausal

Kids 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

a causal link exists between the deceptive act and the injury

—National Law Journal

3

: arising from a cause