What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
etiologic
Example
The etiologic factors of diabetes are complex and multifactorial. [etiologic: adjective]
Example
Etiologic research aims to identify the underlying causes of a disease. [etiologic: adjective]
causative
Example
The causative agent of the disease was identified as a virus. [causative: adjective]
Example
Smoking is a causative factor in the development of lung cancer. [causative: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Causative is more commonly used than etiologic in everyday language. Causative is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while etiologic is less common and typically used in medical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between etiologic and causative?
Etiologic is more formal and technical than causative, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
