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

Our methodology ensured that teachers remained unaware of which students received which notes, enabling us to get a pure read on the causal effect of the note. —Time, 17 Aug. 2023

Because the laptop doesn’t have the causal power of a black hole. —IEEE Spectrum, 13 Apr. 2023

Studies have indicated that artificial food dyes are associated with behavioral problems in children, including hyperactivity; the FDA has maintained there is no evidence of a causal relationship for children in the general population who have not been diagnosed with behavioral disorders. —Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023

Some of these differences are causal, social-science research has suggested: College teaches people both hard and soft skills that are useful in today’s complex economy. —David Leonhardt, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023

Read full article The rise of social media use among youth is well documented, but a causal relationship between social media use and violent in-person events is more difficult to quantify. —Sarah Raza, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023

Plus, they are normally used when the dining is very causal. —Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 29 June 2023

No bright causal line connects Zdarsky’s experiences growing up in a totalitarian state and his current watchfulness, but there’s room for speculation. —Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023

But also, after acting on understandable curiosity, there’s her nagging guilt about lives worse off, namely her victim’s widow, Kara (Whitney Morgan Cox), now leading a decidedly harder life with her own daughter (Veda Cienfuegos) for an entirely different causal reason. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2023

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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

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