przyczynowy

Przyczynowy is a Polish adjective derived from the noun przyczyna (cause). It denotes a relation or quality related to causation, i.e., something that concerns, expresses, or results from a cause. In everyday language and in professional usage, the term functions as a general label for anything connected with cause-and-effect relationships.

In philosophy, science, and statistics, przyczynowy describes causal relations and models. A związek przyczynowy (causal relationship) refers to a link in which one event or factor is understood to contribute to or produce another. A model przyczynowy (causal model) aims to explain how changes in certain variables lead to changes in others, and to distinguish genuine causes from mere correlations. The concept is central to disciplines such as epidemiology, economics, and social sciences, where establishing causality informs interpretation and decision-making.

In linguistics and grammar, the notion of causation is often expressed through linguistic constructions. Polish terminology may speak of zdanie/przyczynowe (causal clauses) or forms that express a reason or cause, using conjunctions like ponieważ or bo. In this context, przyczynowy can describe grammatical devices or functional roles that convey cause rather than sequence or purpose alone. The term is also used more broadly to describe any causal element, such as a czynnik przyczynowy (causal factor) in an analysis of why an outcome occurred.

See also: przyczyna, związek przyczynowy, model przyczynowy.