because of

preposition

Synonyms of because ofnext
: by reason of : on account of

Synonyms of because of

Examples of because of in a Sentence

I was late for work because of the snowstorm, which made driving a nightmare.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The good news is many deaths are preventable because of vaccines. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026 The cost of building a turbine has climbed between 30% to 40% since 2020, largely because of the price of raw materials. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Star receiver Puka Nacua will play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Philadelphia, but star defensive lineman Aaron Donald is out because of a back issue, Rams coach Sean McVay said Friday. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Journalists traveling with Machado initially said the flights had been canceled because of paperwork problems, according to the Dutch report. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for because of

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of because of was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Because of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/because%20of. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

because of

preposition
: by reason of
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