Submitted by simon  •  October 28, 2009

Causative or Causal?

What is the correct usage of causative and causal? If, for example, you want to describe the etiological agent of a disease, would you call it a “causative agent” or a “causal agent”?

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wren_be

December 1, 2009, 1:48am

So, it seems, there is a causal relationship between a causative and its result.

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kellyjohnj

November 8, 2009, 9:55pm

I'd say that causative would mean that the agent is the direct cause of the disease, whereas if you use the word causal, I'd expect it to be perhaps one of several candidates, or perhaps one in a series of possible steps in causing the disease.

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douglas.bryant

October 28, 2009, 6:34pm

'Causal' means of or relating to cause or arising from a cause. 'Causative' means operating as a cause or expressing a cause. In describing an etiological agent, 'causative' is the accurate word. 'Causal' would be used to describe the relation between the agent and the infirmity.

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