due to

preposition

: as a result of : because of
due to the complaints of uptight parents … he lost his jobHerbert Gold
Using Due to: Usage Guide

The objection to due to as a preposition is only a continuation of disagreements that began in the 18th century over the proper uses of owing and due. Due to is as grammatically sound as owing to, which is frequently recommended in its place. It has been and is used by reputable writers and has been recognized as standard for decades. There is no solid reason to avoid due to.

Examples of due to in a Sentence

evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow
Recent Examples on the Web Thao Nguyen Houston’s police chief apologized to victims and their families Thursday after an internal review revealed that about 264,000 criminal incident reports were suspended in the past eight years due to a lack of personnel. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 In 2023, the event switched from its longtime home at the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica — where it had been held since 1991 — to the Le Meridian Delfina, a location that disappointed many attendees due to issues with the layout and lifts. Alex Ritman, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 Dozens of Mount Healthy City Schools employees will be laid off by the end of the school year due to financial issues within the district. Fox19, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 The bustle of vendors and customers on its March 1 reopening felt a far cry from the final weeks of the market’s previous run, which ended in large part due to dwindling vendors, according to organizers. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The concert was delayed a little less than an hour due to flight issues and Stump took a car from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth. Candi Bolden, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 There also is a stream — Little Deer Creek — near the base that is closed to fishing due to high levels, according to an advisory. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 According to a 2019 study, avoiding or cutting back on dairy due to lactose intolerance can put people at risk for bone loss and fractures (broken bones). Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2024 Profits at L'Oreal and Shiseido have also been dented due to weak consumer spending and greater local competition. Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'due to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of due to was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near due to

Cite this Entry

“Due to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due%20to. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

due to

preposition
: because of

More from Merriam-Webster on due to

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