1. relating to or based on a single cause; attributing an effect to one cause only
Usage: formal; often used in academic or scientific contexts to critique oversimplified explanations

Examples

• The researcher criticized the monocausal explanation for the disease, noting that multiple factors contribute to its development.
• A monocausal theory of poverty ignores the complex social and economic forces at play.
• Historians warn against monocausal interpretations of major historical events.
• The study rejected the monocausal model in favor of a more nuanced, multifactorial approach.
• Psychologists have moved away from monocausal theories of mental illness toward integrated models.