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REFERENCE

attributed

v. · adj.
US //əˈtɹɪbjətɪd// UK //ɐtɹˈɪbjuːtɪd// at·trib·uted
  1. 1 assigned to a cause or creator (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to say that a particular person wrote something, said something, or caused something to happen.

    to ascribe a work, statement, or event to a specific person, cause, or origin. Often used in the passive voice with the preposition 'to'.

    Example

    The beautiful painting was attributed to a famous artist from the 1800s.

    Example

    The sudden increase in local temperatures was attributed to a combination of urban heat islands and shifting atmospheric currents.

    Usage

    Commonly follows the pattern 'X is attributed to Y'.
    Pitfall
    The quote was attributed at the famous writer.
    The quote was attributed to the famous writer.

    Always use the preposition 'to' when stating the source or cause.

  2. 2 having a specific quality (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical

    having a specific quality or symbol connected to it.

    possessing or decorated with a specific attribute or symbolic quality. In art history, it refers to a figure identified by a specific object.

    Example

    The statue of the goddess was easily identified by her attributed shield and spear.

    Example

    The attributed characteristics of the protagonist in the early chapters serve as a foil for his eventual moral decline.

    Teacher's tip

    This adjectival use is rare outside of academic contexts like art history or literary analysis.
Related words

Last updated June 19, 2026