external cause

noun

A cause for an effect in a system that is not a constituent of that system, especially causes of personal health problems or death, such as poison, weapon wounds, or accident.

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Meanings

nounexternal cause (plural external causes)

plural external causes

  1. medicineA cause for an effect in a system that is not a constituent of that system, especially causes of personal health problems or death, such as poison, weapon wounds, or accident.
Cite this entry
APA

external cause. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/external%20cause

MLA

“external cause.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/external%20cause. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “external cause,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/external%20cause.

Source: external cause on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.