What does attribution mean?
Attribution is the act of assigning something — a work, a statement, a cause, or a quality — to a particular person, source, or factor. In art history and literary studies, it refers to the scholarly judgement that a painting or text is by a certain hand; in journalism, it denotes the practice of naming the sources behind reported information; and in psychology, attribution theory examines how people explain the causes of events and behaviour, whether they credit internal traits or external circumstances. The noun derives from the Latin attribuere, meaning to allot or assign, via the past participle attributus. Attribution is a formal, neutral term that conveys rigour and accountability: to demand attribution is to insist that credit be given where it is due and that claims be traceable to their origin. Its adjective form attributable and its negative misattribution extend this core sense of assignment and responsibility.
The act of regarding something as caused by, or as belonging to, a particular person or thing; the crediting of a work or remark to its author or source.
"Careful attribution of quotations is essential in academic writing."
Frequent in art history ('attribution to a master'), psychology ('causal attribution'), and journalism ('without attribution').
A judgement, especially in art or textual scholarship, that a work is by a particular artist or author.
"The museum revised its attribution after new evidence emerged."
Used when referring to multiple individual acts of crediting or multiple scholarly judgements; the singular often suffices for the general concept.
"The catalogue lists all previous attributions of the drawing."
The word attribution comes from the Latin for 'to hand over' — every time you credit an author, you are formally handing the idea back to them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of attribution
Attribution comes from Latin attribuere, 'to assign or allot to', formed from ad- ('to') plus tribuere ('to grant, bestow', from tribus, 'tribe'), with the noun built on the past participle attributus. It entered English in the early 15th century through Old French and Medieval Latin usage. It shares its root with contribute, distribute, and tribute — all words about giving or allotting.
Related word forms
How attribution is actually used
Attribution is a formal or technical term, common in academic writing, art scholarship, journalism ethics, and psychology. It carries no strong emotional connotation; it signals careful, accountable sourcing rather than casual opinion.
Easily confused with attribution
As a noun, an attribute is a quality regarded as characteristic of someone or something, while attribution is the act or process of assigning credit or cause to that person or thing.