causative
adjective
caus·a·tive
ˈkȯ-zə-tiv 
1
: effective or operating as a cause or agent
causative bacteria of cholera
causative
noun
causatively
adverb
Examples of causative in a Sentence
A virus was found to be the causative agent of smallpox.
Recent Examples on the Web
The causative agent in this case is still unknown, the CDC said.
—
Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Finding the agent that caused an outbreak (causative agent) can take time.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
On Viking’s Viking Mars vessel, 62 of 887 passengers reported being sick during a voyage that ended Friday with the same predominant symptoms, though the CDC listed the causative agent as unknown.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
The health agency listed the causative agent as unknown.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for causative 
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Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Finding the agent that caused an outbreak (causative agent) can take time.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
On Viking’s Viking Mars vessel, 62 of 887 passengers reported being sick during a voyage that ended Friday with the same predominant symptoms, though the CDC listed the causative agent as unknown.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
The health agency listed the causative agent as unknown.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for causative
Dictionary Entries Near causative
Cite this Entry
“Causative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/causative. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
causative
adjective
caus·a·tive
ˈkȯ-zə-tiv
: making something happen or exist
a causative agent of disease
Legal Definition
causative
adjective
caus·a·tive
ˈkȯ-zə-tiv
1
: effective or operating as a cause
the causative negligent act
2
: causal sense 2
the causative link between stress and coronary artery disease—National Law Journal
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