attribution
noun
at·tri·bu·tion
ˌa-trə-ˈbyü-shən 
plural attributions
1
: the act of attributing something
especially
: the ascribing of a work (as of literature or art) to a particular author or artist
2
: an ascribed quality, character, or right
Supernatural powers were attributions of the gods.
3
psychology
: the interpretive process by which people make judgments about the causes of their own behavior and the behavior of others
Psychologists have long documented what they call the fundamental attribution error, the tendency for people to explain human behavior in terms of the traits of individual actors, even when powerful situational forces are at work.—
Erica Goode
Erica GoodeSynonyms
Examples of attribution in a Sentence
a genuine respect for one another is one of the most commonly cited attributions of a happily married couple
Recent Examples on the Web
Rapid attribution analyses of Hurricane Helene have focused most closely on the destructive rainfall associated with it.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
Meanwhile, the customer journey is more fragmented and harder to measure, with traditional attribution methods failing.
—Nicholas Holland, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
The record-high sea surface temperatures observed in this region over the past two weeks were made up to 400 to 800 times more likely by climate change, according to a rapid attribution analysis by Climate Central.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
The new average plan bid for a standard Part D coverage increases by 179% for 2025 partly due to an underestimation of federal attributions to the Part D changes, according to the analysis.
—Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for attribution 
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
Meanwhile, the customer journey is more fragmented and harder to measure, with traditional attribution methods failing.
—Nicholas Holland, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
The record-high sea surface temperatures observed in this region over the past two weeks were made up to 400 to 800 times more likely by climate change, according to a rapid attribution analysis by Climate Central.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
The new average plan bid for a standard Part D coverage increases by 179% for 2025 partly due to an underestimation of federal attributions to the Part D changes, according to the analysis.
—Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for attribution
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attribution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near attribution
Cite this Entry
“Attribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attribution. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
attribution
noun
at·tri·bu·tion
ˌa-trə-ˈbyü-shən
: a rule in tax law that in certain cases deems property owned by one person or business entity to be owned by another or others
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