assumed cause
nounUK /əˈsjuːmd kɔːz/
US /əˈsuːmd kɔːz/
A cause is the reason something happens, and an assumed cause is a reason people think is true without checking.
The teacher thought the noise was an assumed cause of the broken window, but it was really the wind.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In science, an assumed cause is an idea about why something happened that scientists test to see if it is right.
The scientist wrote down an assumed cause for the plant's wilting and then did an experiment.
3. In stories, an assumed cause is what characters wrongly blame for a problem.
The detective's assumed cause was the butler, but the real culprit was the cat.
4. An assumed cause can be a reason someone gives without proof.
His assumed cause for being late was traffic, but he had actually overslept.