Causal

/ˈkɔːzəl/

adjectiveIntermediate📊CommonRelationship
2 meanings2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Relating to or indicating a cause or reason.

/ˈkɔːzəl/

adjectiveneutralIntermediate
Relationship

Relating to or indicating cause and effect.

There is a causal connection between poverty and crime.

💡 Simply: Causal means related to the cause of something. It's about what makes something happen.

👶 For kids: It's about what makes something else happen. Like, if you drop a glass (cause), it breaks (effect).

More Examples

2

The study examined the causal factors contributing to the disease.

How It's Used

Philosophy

"The philosopher explored the causal relationship between events."

Science

"The study aimed to determine the causal link between smoking and lung cancer."

2

Informal or relaxed; not formal.

/ˈkæʒuəl/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
Style

Informal or casual; not formal.

The atmosphere was quite causal.

💡 Simply: Causal means relaxed and informal, like wearing jeans instead of a suit.

👶 For kids: It's like wearing comfy clothes instead of fancy ones.

More Examples

2

He adopted a causal approach to the problem.

How It's Used

Fashion

"She wore causal clothing to the picnic."

Conversation

"They had a causal conversation."

Tip:Think 'casual Friday' - it's the opposite of formal.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Antonyms

From Latin *causalis, from causa "cause". The word's development reflects the long-standing connection between cause and effect.

The word 'causal' has been used in philosophical discussions for centuries, reflecting a long-standing interest in cause and effect.

Memory tip

Think 'cause' - it's all about the reason behind something.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"cause"

causal relationshipcausal inferencecausal mechanismcasual conversation

Common misspellings

causlecasual

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written