causality

noun

cau·​sal·​i·​ty kȯ-ˈza-lə-tē 

plural causalities

1

: a causal quality or agency

2

: the relation between a cause and its effect or between regularly correlated events or phenomena

Synonyms

• cause
• causation

Examples of causality in a Sentence

Scientists found no causality between the events.

a supreme being is a being that, by definition, has no causality of its own

Recent Examples on the Web

The assumption that a physical, geographic territory can map onto a distinct body of literature implies a false causality, Dimock observes. —Abby Clayton, JSTOR Daily, 29 Apr. 2025

The Question of Proportionality Aristotle understood that causality is a complicated concept, and identified four different types of causes. —George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

The study’s cross-sectional design didn’t allow the researchers to determine the causality of the relationship between sleep and cognitive performance. —Paul McClure 14, New Atlas, 14 May 2025

Its operating premise—that prosperity breeds inflation—gets the causality exactly wrong. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin causālitāt- causālitās, from Late Latin causālis causal + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for causality

• equality
• frivolity
• sodality
• inequality
• jollity
• polity
• quality

Legal Definition

causality

noun

cau·​sal·​i·​ty kȯ-ˈza-lə-tē 

plural causalities

: the relationship between cause and effect