because of

preposition

: by reason of : on account of

Examples of because of in a Sentence

I was late for work because of the snowstorm, which made driving a nightmare.
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.
The result was one of the most transformative kitchen appliances in history, not because of new technology but because someone recognized an everyday problem—slow, inefficient cooking—applied a seemingly unrelated observation, and created a solution. Mark Nevins, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 Simple ingredients: Another reason this casserole is so popular is because of the simple ingredient list. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025 Yeah, because of that we’re seen as lacking experience. Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025 The brothers say Maroon remains wildly popular in St. Louis because of that moment and that playoff run. Jeremy Rutherford, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for because of

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of because of was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Because of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/because%20of. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

because of

preposition
: by reason of

More from Merriam-Webster on because of

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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