primary cause
/ˈprɪməri ˈkɔːz/ · pri.ma.ry.cause
noun
- The initial or underlying reason for an event or situation. The primary cause of the fire was a faulty electrical wire.
noun
- The main or most important reason for a particular action or decision. Her primary cause for quitting her job was the lack of opportunities for advancement.
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Did you know? The concept of primary cause is often used in scientific inquiry to identify the underlying mechanisms driving a particular phenomenon.