(law) An event which, in a natural and continuous sequence, unbroken by any efficient intervening cause, produces an injury, and without which the injury would not have occurred.

plural of cause of action

Alternative spelling of first cause

(theology, philosophy, sometimes capitalized) An initial cause from which all other causes and effects follow.

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

(transitive) The action of identifying the cause of a chain of events which leads to an outcome or effect of interest. To root cause something's root cause does not necessarily imply the use of root cause analysis (RCA).

plural of proximate cause

Shared purpose. / Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see common, cause.

(philosophy, natural science) The being or event which physically brings about the change or motion that produces another occurrence or thing.

(philosophy, natural science) The stuff or matter of which something is made.