Phrase guide

root cause

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An initiating cause of a chain of events which leads to an outcome or effect of interest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bottom

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To identify the cause of a chain of events which leads to an outcome or effect of interest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bashkir: төп сәбәп (töp səbəp) — initiating cause
  • Dutch: grondoorzaak — initiating cause
  • Finnish: perussyy — initiating cause
  • Finnish: juurisyy — initiating cause
  • Georgian: ძირეული მიზეზი (ʒireuli mizezi) — initiating cause
  • German: Grundursache — initiating cause
  • Italian: causa ultima — initiating cause
  • Italian: causa scatenante — initiating cause
  • Manx: ard-oyr — initiating cause