etiology
/iːtɪˈɒlɒdʒi/; /iːtɪˈɒlədʒi/Definitions
1. noun
The study of the causes and origins of diseases, or the cause or explanation of a particular phenomenon or event.
“The doctor spent years studying the etiology of cancer to find a cure.”
2. noun
A statement of the cause or explanation of a particular phenomenon or event.
“The researcher’s theory on the etiology of the earthquake was widely accepted.”