due to

preposition

: as a result of : because of
due to the complaints of uptight parents … he lost his jobHerbert Gold
Using Due to: Usage Guide

The objection to due to as a preposition is only a continuation of disagreements that began in the 18th century over the proper uses of owing and due. Due to is as grammatically sound as owing to, which is frequently recommended in its place. It has been and is used by reputable writers and has been recognized as standard for decades. There is no solid reason to avoid due to.

Examples of due to in a Sentence

evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow
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 Florida native only played 78 games in 2024 due to injury, yet still produced 23 home runs and 49 RBIs, to give himself a 4.7 WAR. Tyler Small, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024 The site will not have its own parking due to the small size of the area near the corner of South 76th Street. Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024 Many of the bodies had signs of torture and many of them suffered malnutrition; some of the bodies have almost no muscle tissue between the ribs due to extreme malnutrition, Dr. Sarah Melhem, a forensics doctor at the hospital, told ABC News. James Longman, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2024 Drinking heavily can worsen the symptoms for each, causing flare-ups due to inflammation. Sanjana Ray, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for due to 

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of due to was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near due to

Cite this Entry

“Due to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due%20to. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

due to

preposition
: because of

More from Merriam-Webster on due to

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!