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
Erica GoodeExamples 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
Retailers need to easily understand their search performance, conversion impact and revenue attribution through easy-to-understand and accessible dashboards and reporting mechanisms.
—Roland Gossage, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Another 45 percent called out the ability to prioritize comparable cross-retailer measurements and attribution, 42 percent called for standardized metrics and definitions and 39 percent emphasized the need for offline and online attribution.
—Alexandra Pastore, WWD, 26 Feb. 2025
Look for platforms that have stringent review processes and understand how to check for quality academic and research writing, methodological consistency, argument coherence, and correct attribution and citation.
—Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
The attribution is technically accurate (one of the production companies that made the movie is German) and perhaps morally, too: Rasoulof, facing a prison sentence in Iran after making the film there in secret, fled the country and now lives in Germany.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
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Roland Gossage, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Another 45 percent called out the ability to prioritize comparable cross-retailer measurements and attribution, 42 percent called for standardized metrics and definitions and 39 percent emphasized the need for offline and online attribution.
—Alexandra Pastore, WWD, 26 Feb. 2025
Look for platforms that have stringent review processes and understand how to check for quality academic and research writing, methodological consistency, argument coherence, and correct attribution and citation.
—Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
The attribution is technically accurate (one of the production companies that made the movie is German) and perhaps morally, too: Rasoulof, facing a prison sentence in Iran after making the film there in secret, fled the country and now lives in Germany.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attribution
Cite this Entry
“Attribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attribution. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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