1
: the act of attributing somethingespecially : 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 Examples of attribution in a Sentencea genuine respect for one another is one of the most commonly cited attributions of a happily married couple
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. Like attribution, data aggregation has always been complex for businesses with smaller marketing budgets. —John Readman, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 The smaller figure’s attribution was meant to say Nvidia. —Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 22 June 2025 With a fresh attribution to the famed British Romantic artist, the painting, now known as The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St. Vincent’s Rock, Bristol, is heading back to auction at Sotheby’s, where it is expected to fetch between roughly $270,000 and $400,000 on July 2. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025 Especially in performance marketing, where affiliate programs, attribution logic and performance optimization all run on technical fluency and human judgment. —David Pickard, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for attribution Word HistoryFirst Known Use
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of attribution was in 1598 Cite this Entry“Attribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attribution. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Last Updated: 27 Jun 2025 - Updated example sentencesLove words? Need even more definitions?
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