causal.

1. Relating to a relationship in which one factor brings about or influences an outcome.

2. Expressing a reason or cause, as in a clause introduced by because.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• causal relationship
• causal mechanism
• causal inference

On the page

The paper proposed a causal mechanism for the observed change.

The design could detect an association but not establish a causal relationship.

She separated the causal explanation from the chronology of events.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic. Forms: Relational adjective; no ordinary comparative or superlative required. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.