contributing factor
Helps bring about
A contributing factor is something that helps cause or influence an outcome, usually negative, without being the sole cause.
Medical examiners cite contributing factors in deaths; investigators identify them in accidents.
The phrase acknowledges that most outcomes have multiple causes: Fatigue was a contributing factor in the crash.
Often shortened to simply factor or contributor.
- causeWhat produces an effect
- influencePower to affect others
- elementBasic substance or factor
- variableProne to fluctuation
- triggerWhat initiates action
tipping point · catalyst · ingredient · component · driver · determinant · playing a part · circumstance · condition · reason · source · root · causal link · aspect · piece · link · connection · role
- causescause, root cause, primary cause, underlying cause, origin
- Crash InvestigationsNTSB, crash investigation, crash site, crash scene, black box
- legal causationcausal chain, direct cause, sine qua non, indirect cause, causal link
- Factorsmultiplier, divisor, coefficient
contributing factormitigating factor
Consideration lessening culpability
deterrent · obstacle · impediment · barrier · coincidence
contributing factorroot cause
Fundamental origin of problem
primary cause · determining factor · direct cause · smoking gun · linchpin
contributing, factor, contribute, contributes, contributed, contribution, contributions, contributor, contributors