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Definitions

causation

[kaw-zey-shuhn] / kɔˈzeɪ ʃən /
NOUN
cause
Synonyms
STRONGEST
element explanation matter motivation motive origin principle purpose root source
STRONG
account agency aim antecedent author basis beginning consideration creator determinant doer end foundation genesis ground grounds incitement inducement instigation leaven mainspring maker object occasion producer spring stimulation
WEAK
prime mover
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discouragement effect result
STRONG
conclusion finish neglect thoughtlessness
WEAK
consequence development fruit issue outcome outgrowth product
NOUN
making
Synonyms
STRONGEST
formulation
STRONG
authoring building composition conception constituting construction contriving designing devising fabrication fancying fashioning forging occasioning origination performing planning producing production shaping
Antonyms
STRONG
destruction ruin
NOUN
origin
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ancestor ancestry connection element influence motive provenance root source
STRONG
agent antecedent author base causality creator derivation determinant egg embryo fountain generator germ impulse inception inducement inspiration mainspring nucleus occasion parent parentage principle producer progenitor provenience roots seed spring stock well wellspring
WEAK
horse's mouth
Antonyms
STRONG
conclusion effect end ending result
WEAK
close completion consequence death destiny finale goal outcome outgrowth termination
NOUN
provenience
Synonyms
STRONG
agent ancestor ancestry antecedent author base beginning causality connection creator derivation determinant egg element embryo fount fountain fountainhead generator germ impulse inception inducement influence inspiration mainspring mother motive nucleus occasion parent parentage principle producer progenitor provenance root roots rootstock seed source spring stock well wellspring
WEAK
horse's mouth
Antonyms
STRONG
conclusion discouragement effect end ending finish hindrance result
NOUN
rootstock
Synonyms
STRONG
agent ancestor ancestry antecedent author base beginning causality connection creator derivation determinant egg element embryo fount fountain fountainhead generator germ impulse inception inducement influence inspiration mainspring mother motive nucleus occasion parent parentage principle producer progenitor provenance provenience root roots seed source spring stock well wellspring
WEAK
horse's mouth
Antonyms
STRONG
conclusion discouragement effect end ending finish hindrance result

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He explained that language emphasizing causation over correlation and other results biases is a problem in scientific research at-large, but in his opinion, this is an egregious example.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

Ni Lochlainn accepts that to many people this sounds unpleasant - but these studies are important because they suggest a direct line of causation: from a gut microbiome to the age of a body.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Instead, the justices together gravitated toward something else entirely: a problem about time, causation, and whether constitutional authority can be temporally partitioned.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2026

Together, he said, “those studies have indicated that a vast share of the causation of autism can be traced to the effects of genetic influences. That is a fact.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

Those include confounding effects of natural variation in additional variables besides the one of interest, as well as problems in inferring chains of causation from observed correlations between variables.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.