causality

noun

cau·​sal·​i·​ty kȯ-ˈza-lə-tē How to pronounce causality (audio)
plural causalities
1
: a causal quality or agency
2
: the relation between a cause and its effect or between regularly correlated events or phenomena

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To reach advanced machine intelligence, AI must go beyond perception and understand how the physical world works — anticipating dynamics, causality, and consequences. Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 Raises 'Cover-up' Question Over Joe Biden Cancer Diagnosis Joe Biden Diagnosed With 'Aggressive Form' of Prostate Cancer While the study identifies a significant association, causality has not been definitively established. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for causality

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of causality was in 1603

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Cite this Entry

“Causality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/causality. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

causality

noun
cau·​sal·​i·​ty kȯ-ˈza-lə-tē How to pronounce causality (audio)
plural causalities
: the relationship between cause and effect

More from Merriam-Webster on causality

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