2
: of, relating to, or constituting a cause
the causal agent of a disease
3
: involving causation or a cause : marked by cause and effect
a causal link
evidence suggests that there is a strong causal relationship between an individual's experiences with his parents and his later capacity to make affectional bonds—
G. A. Miller
G. A. Miller4
: arising from a cause
a causal development
Examples of causal in a Sentence
No causal connection between the events was found.
There is a causal link between poverty and crime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Walter: Associations don’t allow researchers to make causal inferences.
—Matt Villano, CNN, 19 June 2024
The 2013 work using effective information could have been just a quirk of measuring causal influence this way.
—Quanta Magazine, 10 June 2024
For example, a deliberative approach to creating an immigration bill might start with causal reasoning to understand the multiple factors influencing the current border surge and the positive and negative effects of immigration.
—Leo Gugerty, The Conversation, 10 June 2024
And most of those studies suggest that kind of linear causal effect.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for causal 
Matt Villano, CNN, 19 June 2024
The 2013 work using effective information could have been just a quirk of measuring causal influence this way.
—Quanta Magazine, 10 June 2024
For example, a deliberative approach to creating an immigration bill might start with causal reasoning to understand the multiple factors influencing the current border surge and the positive and negative effects of immigration.
—Leo Gugerty, The Conversation, 10 June 2024
And most of those studies suggest that kind of linear causal effect.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for causal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'causal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near causal
Cite this Entry
“Causal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/causal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
causal
adjective
caus·al
ˈkȯ-zəl 
: of, relating to, or being a cause
Legal Definition
causal
adjective
caus·al
ˈkȯ-zəl
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a cause
causal negligence
2
: involving causation or a cause
no causal relationship between driving without insurance and the accident—National Law Journal
National Law Journala causal link exists between the deceptive act and the injury—National Law Journal
National Law Journal3
: arising from a cause
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