adj.
Pronunciation: ' ko ̇ -z ə -tiv
Function: adjective
Date: 15th century
1 : effective or operating as a cause or agent < causative bacteria of cholera>
2 : expressing causation specifically : being a linguistic form that indicates that the subject causes an act to be performed or a condition to come into being
– causative noun
– caus · a · tive · ly adverb