veroorzakers

Veroorzakers is a Dutch noun that denotes entities or factors that cause a particular outcome. The term aligns with the English “causal agents” or “causes” and can refer to people, events, processes, or conditions that bring about a result.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from the verb veroorzaken (to cause) with the agent suffix -er, yielding veroorzaker. The plural is veroorzakers. The term emphasizes agency in causation, distinguishing direct or intentional causes from more incidental correlations.

Domains and meaning: In academic writing, veroorzakers are used to discuss responsibility and causation. In philosophy and law, they help distinguish direct causal agents from contributing factors. In health sciences and social sciences, veroorzakers refer to risk factors, triggers, or conditions that contribute to an outcome, often alongside protective factors or mitigating influences.

Usage considerations: Veroorzakers can denote intentional acts or unconscious conditions, depending on context. The term is commonly paired with prepositional phrases such as “veroorzaker van” (the cause of) or “veroorzakende factoren” (causal factors) to specify the relationship between the agent and the result.

See also: cause, causality, causal factor, causal chain, agent, responsibility.