attribution — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act of attributing something.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. An explicit or formal acknowledgment of ownership or authorship.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The attribution of the quote is widely regarded as dubious.

3. A legal doctrine by which liability is extended to a defendant who did not actually commit the tortious or criminal act.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. Authority or function assigned

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. assigning some quality or character to a person or thing

   Synonyms

   ascription

   Broader terms

   classificationcategorizationcategorisationsorting

   Examples

   the attribution of language to birds

   the ascription to me of honors I had not earned

2. assigning to a cause or source

   Synonyms

   ascription

   Broader terms

   classificationcategorizationcategorisationsorting

   Examples

   the attribution of lighting to an expression of God's wrath

   he questioned the attribution of the painting to Picasso