English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj Common

attributed

uh-TRIHB-yoo-tihd

Attributed (adj) means said to be the work, quality, or possession of a particular person, cause, or source. Example: “The painting is attributed to a student of Rembrandt, not the master himself.”

adj
1
Said to be the work, quality, or possession of a particular person, cause, or source.
"The painting is attributed to a student of Rembrandt, not the master himself."
"The delay was attributed to a shortage of parts."

How to Use Attributed

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCredited to, or said to come from, a particular person or cause.

Common mistake

Attributed to means "said to be caused by" — it does not guarantee the claim is proven, just that someone is crediting or blaming that source.

Common pairings
attributed to widely attributed commonly attributed
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “attributed” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The painting is _____ to a student of Rembrandt, not the master himself.

Related Words

Rhymes for attributed

See all rhymes for attributed →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “attributed” mean?

The word “attributed” means said to be the work, quality, or possession of a particular person, cause, or source. In plain terms, credited to, or said to come from, a particular person or cause.

How do you pronounce “attributed”?

“Attributed” is pronounced uh-TRIHB-yoo-tihd (/əˈtɹɪb.(j)ə.tɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “attributed” in a sentence?

Here is “attributed” used in a sentence: “The painting is attributed to a student of Rembrandt, not the master himself.”

What part of speech is “attributed”?

“Attributed” is an adjective.

Is “attributed” a common word?

“Attributed” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between attributed and credited?

Credited presents authorship or responsibility as established fact, while attributed often signals belief rather than proof: the work or quality is said to be from a particular person, cause, or source. In art and publishing, "attributed to" an artist conventionally means experts believe the work is theirs but cannot be certain.

What is the difference between attribute and contribute?

To attribute something is to say it was caused or created by a particular source: success attributed to hard work. To contribute is to give or supply something toward a result: hard work contributed to the success. The confusion arises because both verbs commonly appear with "to."

Do you say attributed to or attributed with?

The standard construction is attributed to: a work, quality, or result is attributed to its creator, owner, or cause. "Attributed with" is nonstandard; if you need a construction that takes with, use credited with, as in "she is credited with inventing the process."

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial