CONTRIBUTORY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contributory mean? 

• CONTRIBUTORY (adjective)
  The adjective CONTRIBUTORY has 1 sense:

1. tending to bring about; being partly responsible for

  Familiarity information: CONTRIBUTORY used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTRIBUTORY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tending to bring about; being partly responsible for

Synonyms:

conducive; contributing; contributive; contributory; tributary

Context example:

a contributory factor

Similar:

causative (producing an effect)

Derivation:

contribute (be conducive to)

 Context examples 

Contributory factors include excessive water exposure (swimmer's ear infection) and cuts in the ear canal.

(External Ear Infection, NCI Thesaurus)

You could not have chosen your subject better, and all contributory factors have been unwarrantedly propitious.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It made me uneasy, as though the whole evening had been a trick of some sort to exact a contributory emotion from me.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)