Definition of cause

• events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash"
• a justification for something existing or happening; "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice"
• a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort"