Contributory
adjective
Helping to cause or bring about something.
Smoking is a contributory factor to many illnesses.
adjective
Connected to or involved in contributing something.
She's part of a contributory pension scheme at work.
adjective
Making a certain specific contribution.
Steve Jobs was a contributory figure in the field of technology.
Often appears as...
- contributory role
- contributory factor
adjective
Of or pertaining to a payment or series of payments made by an individual or group to some entity.
The contributory plan provides a pension based on both the employee's contributions and the employer's contributions.
Often appears as...
- contributory plan
- contributory scheme
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
adjective
Helping to cause or bring about something.
Smoking is a contributory factor to many illnesses.
adjective
Connected to or involved in contributing something.
She's part of a contributory pension scheme at work.
adjective
Making a certain specific contribution.
Steve Jobs was a contributory figure in the field of technology.
Often appears as...
- contributory role
- contributory factor
adjective
Of or pertaining to a payment or series of payments made by an individual or group to some entity.
The contributory plan provides a pension based on both the employee's contributions and the employer's contributions.
Often appears as...
- contributory plan
- contributory scheme
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Cause Relation
Use 'contributory' to describe something that helps cause another thing, but isn't the only reason.
Poor diet is only a contributory cause of that health issue.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
It's commonly used in negative contexts, like problems or diseases.
High stress levels are a contributory factor to heart disease.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Sole Cause
Implies that other factors are involved beyond the contributory one.
Lack of exercise may be a contributory cause, alongside genetics.
Pro Tip 1/3Cause Relation
Use 'contributory' to describe something that helps cause another thing, but isn't the only reason.
Poor diet is only a contributory cause of that health issue.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
It's commonly used in negative contexts, like problems or diseases.
High stress levels are a contributory factor to heart disease.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Sole Cause
Implies that other factors are involved beyond the contributory one.
Lack of exercise may be a contributory cause, alongside genetics.
Pro Tip 1/3Cause Relation
Use 'contributory' to describe something that helps cause another thing, but isn't the only reason.
Poor diet is only a contributory cause of that health issue.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
It's commonly used in negative contexts, like problems or diseases.
High stress levels are a contributory factor to heart disease.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Sole Cause
Implies that other factors are involved beyond the contributory one.
Lack of exercise may be a contributory cause, alongside genetics.
Compare with
auxiliarycollaborativecontributeparticipatesecondarysubservientsupplementarysupport
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Video examples
Defend our freedom to...
are in the business of having to police us, or being on the hook for contributory infringement. There's two things you can do to help stop this -- a simple thing and a complicated thing,
Video examples
Defend our freedom to...
are in the business of having to police us, or being on the hook for contributory infringement. There's two things you can do to help stop this -- a simple thing and a complicated thing,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Glen Duncan
British Author
As an Anglo-Indian kid in Bolton, I was basically in a minority of one. That was a source of misery, but at the same time, one of the effects of receiving the message that you don't belong to the club is that you watch the club with detachment. The fact that no one quite knew who I was was a major contributory factor in starting to write.
Quote examples
Joe Jamail
American Businessman
You had to have a unanimous jury verdict, and one percent of contributory negligence barred all recovery. It was so satisfying to realize I could do it. And I'll tell you what motivated me: competitiveness. I was betting on me. That's what a contingent-fee lawyer does.
Quote examples
David Boies
American Lawyer
Napster's only alleged liability is for contributory or vicarious infringement. So when Napster's users engage in noncommercial sharing of music, is that activity copyright infringement? No.
Quote examples
John Dingell
American Politician
If you talk to any of my Democratic colleagues who lost that year, they would tell that gun control was one of the major contributory factors in the loss of their seats.
Quote examples
Albert J. Nock
American Philosopher
Useless knowledge can be made directly contributory to a force of sound and disinterested public opinion.
Quote examples
Glen Duncan
British Author
As an Anglo-Indian kid in Bolton, I was basically in a minority of one. That was a source of misery, but at the same time, one of the effects of receiving the message that you don't belong to the club is that you watch the club with detachment. The fact that no one quite knew who I was was a major contributory factor in starting to write.
Quote examples
Joe Jamail
American Businessman
You had to have a unanimous jury verdict, and one percent of contributory negligence barred all recovery. It was so satisfying to realize I could do it. And I'll tell you what motivated me: competitiveness. I was betting on me. That's what a contingent-fee lawyer does.
Quote examples
David Boies
American Lawyer
Napster's only alleged liability is for contributory or vicarious infringement. So when Napster's users engage in noncommercial sharing of music, is that activity copyright infringement? No.
Quote examples
John Dingell
American Politician
If you talk to any of my Democratic colleagues who lost that year, they would tell that gun control was one of the major contributory factors in the loss of their seats.
Quote examples
Albert J. Nock
American Philosopher
Useless knowledge can be made directly contributory to a force of sound and disinterested public opinion.
Example 1 of 5
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