# cause

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɔːz/ · frequency rank #441

## Definitions
1. The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
2. Sufficient reason.
3. A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
4. Sake; interest; advantage.
5. Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.
6. A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

## Etymology
* From Middle English cause (also with the sense of “a thing”), borrowed from Old French cause (“a cause, a thing”), borrowed from Latin causa (“reason, sake, cause”), from Proto-Italic *kaussā, which is of unknown origin. Doublet of chose (“(law) a thing; personal property”). See accuse, excuse, recuse, ruse. Displaced native Old English intinga.
* From Middle English causen, Old French causer and Medieval Latin causāre.

## Easily confused with
- **cue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cue)
- **CSE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cse)
- **cute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cute)
- **cure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cure)
- **cave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cave)
- **clue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-clue)
- **cube** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cube)
- **cusp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cusp)
- **cuss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cuss)
- **close** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-close)
- **chose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-chose)
- **chase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-chase)
- **crush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-crush)
- **curse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-curse)
- **cease** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-cease)
- **crude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-crude)
- **crust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-crust)
- **Claus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-claus)
- **coupe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-coupe)
- **chute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-chute)

## Common misspellings (6)
`acuse`, `casue`, `caues`, `causse`, `ccause`, `cuase`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cause