English Reference
Adjective

attributable

adj.
C1 Advanced US /əˈtɹɪbjətəbəɫ/ UK /ɐtɹˈɪbjuːtəbəl/ at·trib·ut·able

adj.able to be explained by a specific cause or reason. You use it to show where something comes from.

adj.capable of being assigned to a particular cause, source, or origin. Typically used with the preposition 'to'.


SIMPLE

The success is attributable to hard work.

CONTEXTUAL

The sudden drop in sales is attributable to the new competitor opening nearby.

COMPLEX

While some critics attribute the novel's complexity to the author's academic background, I find it more attributable to her desire to challenge conventional narrative structures.

Usage

The adjective is typically followed by the preposition 'to'.

The exceptionally hot summer in the Alps has been marked by a record number of rockfalls, some of them fatal, with "a large majority attributable to the climate crisis," according to scientist Ludovic Ravanel.

Phys.org· 20 Aug 2026

About half of that is attributable to personal vehicles.

The Conversation· 31 Jul 2026

From attribute + -able.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated