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

attributional

ˌa-trə-ˈbyü-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of attribution

• attribute
• characteristic
• feature
• quality
• trait
• criterion

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

Unlike ordinary reporting tools, this platform also tracks actual financial results by providing revenue attribution at the SKU level to show which products consumers discover and purchase through the use of AI assistants. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

Not only will your offers be significantly more relevant, but your campaign attribution will actually be measurable. — Brian Reilly, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Imagine content carrying machine-readable information identifying its creator, rights holder, permitted uses, attribution requirements and price. — Shlomit Wagman, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

For now, the attribution remains outside the artist’s catalogue raisonné. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see attribute entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for attribution

• absolution
• allocution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution
• elocution

Legal 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