underlyingcause
nounUK /ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ kɔːz/
US /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ kɔːz/
The real reason something happens, even if it is hidden.
The doctor found the underlying cause of the boy's cough.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The deepest reason for a problem, not just the thing that made it show up.
Fixing the leaky roof did not solve the underlying cause of the mold.
3. A hidden condition that makes something else happen later.
Poor sleep was the underlying cause of her bad grades.
4. The first or most basic reason in a chain of events.
Scientists studied the underlying cause of the disease.