Definition of "causative" in English

adjective

1. Acting as a cause.

2. Involving, or affected by, causality.

   • Such statistical analysis can establish correlation but cannot tell us whether the correlation is proximally causative, distally causative, or noncausative.

3. (grammar) Expressing a cause or causation.

   • The ablative is a causative case.

noun

1. (grammar) An expression of an agent causing or forcing a patient to perform an action (or to be in a certain condition).