# causal

/ˈkɔzəɫ/ (US) · /kˈɔːsəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/causal
Updated: 2026-05-04

## Definition

describing a direct link between an action and its result. If one thing causes another, that link is causal.

For teachers: relating to or determined by a cause; describing the relationship between an event and the factor that produced it. Common in academic and scientific contexts.

## Examples

- The report found a causal link between sugar and energy.
- Researchers struggled to prove a causal connection between the drug and the side effects.
- While the correlation was strong, establishing a causal mechanism required rigorous experimental controls to rule out confounding variables.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.