causation

noun

cau·​sa·​tion kȯ-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce causation (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of causing
the role of heredity in the causation of cancer
b
: the act or agency which produces an effect
in a complex situation causation is likely to be multipleW. O. Aydelotte
2

Examples of causation in a Sentence

the role of heredity in the causation of cancer He claimed that the accident caused his injury, but the court ruled that he did not provide sufficient evidence of causation.
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.
It must be remembered that correlation does not imply causation. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 While many studies have unsurprisingly shown that a company’s financial performance benefits from gender diversity, difficulties separating causation from correlation has led to many others failing to find significance in their results. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 6 Oct. 2024 While hardened reductionists have argued that there can be no free will because all causation ultimately arises from interactions of atoms and molecules, free will may be rescued by the formalism of higher-level causation. Philip Ball, WIRED, 21 July 2024 Gel manicures do require the use of UV light, which can theoretically increase your skin cancer risk (although more research is needed to prove definitive causation, as SELF previously reported). Melanie Rud, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for causation 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin causātiōn-, causātiō "accusation, objection, causal action," going back to Latin, "plea, excuse," from causārī "to plead an action in law, plead as an excuse" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at cause entry 2

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of causation was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near causation

Cite this Entry

“Causation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/causation. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

causation

noun
cau·​sa·​tion kȯ-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce causation (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of causing
proof of objective causation of injury by the perpetratorAlan Freeman
b
: the act or agency that produces an effect
evidence was presented on doctor's malpractice…for…proof of causationNational Law Journal
if plaintiffs could establish…that the caps were manufactured by one of the defendants, the burden of proof as to causation would shift to all the defendantsSindell v. Abbott Laboratories, 607 P.2d 924 (1980)
2
: the relation between cause and effect especially as an element to be proven in a tort or criminal case
must be “legal” causation between the acts and the resultsW. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
see also chain of causation

More from Merriam-Webster on causation

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