due to

preposition

: as a result of : because of

… due to the complaints of uptight parents … he lost his job …

—Herbert Gold

Using Due to: Usage Guide

The objection to due to as a preposition is only a continuation of disagreements that began in the 18th century over the proper uses of owing and due. Due to is as grammatically sound as owing to, which is frequently recommended in its place. It has been and is used by reputable writers and has been recognized as standard for decades. There is no solid reason to avoid due to.

Synonyms of due to

• with

Examples of due to in a Sentence

evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow

Recent Examples on the Web

Ferries are a common method of travel and accidents occur regularly, in part due to weak enforcement of safety standards. — Iman Satria, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

The Visit Ghana deal was due to reap a reported £10million a season, a solid figure at a time when several clubs, including Sunderland, have had to adjust to betting firms no longer being allowed to feature on shirt-fronts. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

In 2005, a plane flying from Italy to Tunisia ran out of gas due to a faulty fuel gage and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily, killing 16 people, investigators said. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

With oil prices continuing to rise due to ongoing tension in the Middle East, oil companies stand to profit more from turning refining crude oil into diesel or gasoline than motor oil. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for due to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

due to

preposition

: because of