causality
UK: kɔːˈzæləti | US: kɔːˈzæləti
n. the relationship between cause and effect
n. the principle that everything has a cause
n. (philosophy) the doctrine that all events are determined by causes
causality = caus<cause> + al<relating to> + ity<noun suffix>
- caus<cause>: From Latin causa, meaning "cause" or "reason."
- al<relating to>: A suffix forming adjectives, from Latin -alis, indicating relation.
- ity<noun suffix>: From Latin -itas, forming abstract nouns denoting state or condition.
Etymology Origin:
The word causality traces back to Latin causalitas, derived from causa (cause). It entered Middle English via Old French, retaining its core meaning of "cause-effect relationship." The suffix -ity abstracts the concept into a principle or doctrine, particularly in philosophy and science. The logical progression reflects how causes (caus) inherently link to outcomes (-ality).
The study aimed to prove causality between smoking and lung cancer.
Philosophers debate whether causality is a universal law.
The experiment failed to establish clear causality.
In physics, causality ensures that effects follow their causes temporally.
Her argument confused correlation with causality.