root cause

This page is about the collocation root cause

collocation pattern: noun + noun

Meaning

the main or fundamental cause of something

For example

  • The root cause of most of the world's problems is greed.

  • Wasn't financial sector deregulation the root cause of the global financial crisis?

Quick Quiz

A problem's root cause is

a. the first thing it caused

b. the worst thing it caused

c. its basic, underlying cause
a) the first thing it caused b) the worst thing it caused c) its basic, underlying cause

Contributor: Matt Errey