causation

noun

cau·​sa·​tion kȯ-ˈzā-shən 

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 multiple

—W. O. Aydelotte

2

: causality

Synonyms

• antecedent
• causality
• cause
• occasion
• reason

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

Overall fat mass is correlated with disease, but correlation is not causation. —Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2025

But correlation is not causation: Not everyone who fits a particular size parameter goes on to develop these issues, and plenty of people in large bodies live long, healthy lives. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Mar. 2025

Correlation isn’t causation, and most nutrition researchers and dietitians say that seed oils aren’t related to upticks in chronic illness. —Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025

The research didn't prove causation—only that extreme heat was linked with higher biological age. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 10 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for causation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation
• conflation

Legal Definition

causation

noun

cau·​sa·​tion kȯ-ˈzā-shən 

1

a

: the act or process of causing

proof of objective causation of injury by the perpetrator

—Alan Freeman

b

: the act or agency that produces an effect

evidence was presented on doctor's malpractice…for…proof of causation

—National 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 defendants

—Sindell 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 results

—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

see also chain of causation