Causal Meaning
/ˈkɔː.zəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf, relating to, or being a cause of something; causing.
nounA word (such as because) that expresses a reason or a cause.
Sentence Examples
What is the difference between a causal relationship and a casual relationship?
There's no causal connection.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The researcher identified a ____ relationship between smoking and lung cancer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Scientists are trying to find the ____ link between the two events.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Late Latin causalis, from Latin causa (“cause”), equivalent to cause + -al, see cause.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"No matter how often B follows A, and no matter how initially obvious the causality of the connection seems, the hypothesis that A causes B can be overturned by an over-arching theory which shows the two as distinct effects of a common underlying causal process."
— 1982, Frank Jackson, “Epiphenomenal Qualia”, in The Philosophical Quarterly (1950–), volume 32, Oxford University Press, page 133:
"Time changes attitudes, and while Hart's actions in driving when not fit to do so were certainly in the causal chain of the Great Heck accident, how many other drivers were out there driving when too fatigued to do so?"
— 2021 February 24, Greg Morse, “Great Heck: a tragic chain of events”, in RAIL, number 925, page 44:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The researcher identified a ____ relationship between smoking and lung cancer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Scientists are trying to find the ____ link between the two events.