cause and effect
noun
plural causes and effects
: the direct relationship between an action or event and its consequence or result
Toys that make noise when interacted with … offer auditory stimulation and teach cause and effect.—
Maya Polton and Katrina Cossey
Maya Polton and Katrina Cossey"Human nature is to look for cause and effect," says Robert Baloh, professor of neurology and head and neck surgery at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. … "I see this daily when I see patients. They're all sure something they ate or something they did caused their problem and their symptoms."—Frank Bures
Frank Bures… focused on observable and verifiable causes and effects in the natural world …—Rafi Eis
Rafi EisExamples of cause and effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Observational studies have found that people who receive Shingrix are about 20% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia in subsequent years, though the data show association, not proof of cause and effect.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
From the circular world of sound with its round huts and round villages, people move, over time, toward linear, cause and effect thinking, grid-like cities, and a one thing at a time and one thing after another world that mimics the linear lines of writing and type.
—Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
For Americans wondering if the need to repay revenue from the tariffs will dash hopes of a stimulus check, Durlauf said the cause and effect is not quite that straightforward.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
At a very basic level, this kind of mistake helps a child understand cause and effect.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cause and effect
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Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
From the circular world of sound with its round huts and round villages, people move, over time, toward linear, cause and effect thinking, grid-like cities, and a one thing at a time and one thing after another world that mimics the linear lines of writing and type.
—Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
For Americans wondering if the need to repay revenue from the tariffs will dash hopes of a stimulus check, Durlauf said the cause and effect is not quite that straightforward.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
At a very basic level, this kind of mistake helps a child understand cause and effect.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cause and effect
Cite this Entry
“Cause and effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cause%20and%20effect. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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