Attribution
/ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃən/
Definitions
The act of assigning something to a cause or source.
/ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃən/
The action of regarding something as being caused by someone or something.
The painting's attribution to Picasso is still debated.
💡 Simply: Saying who or what is responsible for something.
More Examples
She received attribution for her contributions to the project.
How It's Used
"The attribution of the discovery to Newton was widely contested."
"The court questioned the attribution of blame in the accident."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Middle French attribution, from attribuer "to attribute", from Latin attribuere "to assign, to give something to", from ad- "to" + tribuere "to grant, assign".
The word's usage has remained consistent throughout history, primarily in academic and legal contexts.
Memory tip
Think 'attribute' – giving something a quality; attribution is giving something a source.
Word Origin
"to assign, to give something to"