Definition of Attribute
(noun) Any characteristic or quality of an individual or group.
Examples of Attribute
- achieved status
- ascribed status
- Australian
- behavior
- bisexual
- heterosexual
- homosexual
- Native American
Attribute Pronunciation
Syllabification: at·trib·ute
Audio Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
- American English – /At-ruh-byoot/
- British English – /At-ri-byoot/
International Phonetic Alphabet
- American English – /ˈætrəˌbjut/
- British English – /ˈatrɪbjuːt/
Usage Notes
- Plural: attributes
- An attribute needs to be observable and measurable to be studied.
- An attribute can be a constant or a variable.
- A researcher is an (noun) attributer (attributor) that (verb) attributes an (adjective) attributable or (adjective) attributive attribute by (verb) attributing the attribute (adverb) attributively.
Additional Information
- Quantitative Research Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Word origin of “attribute” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com
Related Terms
Cite the Definition of Attribute
ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “attribute.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved December 11, 2023 (https://sociologydictionary.org/attribute/).
APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)
attribute. (2014). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/attribute/
Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “attribute.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed December 11, 2023. https://sociologydictionary.org/attribute/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“attribute.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2023. <https://sociologydictionary.org/attribute/>.