ultimate explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ultimate explanation" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the most fundamental or final reasons behind a phenomenon or concept. An example: "The ultimate explanation for the universe's expansion lies in the principles of dark energy." Alternative expressions include "final explanation" and "fundamental explanation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Whatever the ultimate explanation, I think it was a bad move.

The New Yorker

The chances are better that you're looking for an ultimate explanation.

The New York Times

Other philosophers claim that laws of nature are simply brute regularities in the natural world, which have no ultimate explanation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whatever the ultimate explanation may be, the advantage appears to extend to other types of thinking, too.

The New Yorker

But Gould knew very well that the ultimate explanation for heterochrony would be found not in metaphorical radio knobs but in the genes whose effects those knobs represented.

University of California, Berkeley

Neither does the ultimate explanation of the fate of the children's mother, nor why Will behaves as he does, particularly towards Alice.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Our study is one of the first to assess proximate and ultimate explanations for changes in personality as a function of reproduction and parenting.

Animal Behaviour

Ultimate explanations cite species concepts that assign species evolutionary roles.

SEP

Ultimate explanations are of considerable value in the patient doctor interaction.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

So despite the temptations to think otherwise, ultimate explanations in science cannot invoke supernatural causation.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

That is, ultimate explanations of phenomena and of contingent entities can only rest in what itself requires no explanation.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ultimate explanation" when you want to distinguish between the immediate trigger of an event (proximate cause) and the deeper evolutionary or systemic reason (ultimate cause). This is particularly effective in scientific or philosophical writing to provide a multi-layered analysis.

Common error

Do not pair "ultimate explanation" with adjectives that imply the same thing, such as "final ultimate explanation" or "most ultimate explanation". The word "ultimate" already signifies the highest or final stage in a series, making such additions pleonastic.

Linguistic Context

In the data provided by Ludwig, "ultimate explanation" functions as a complex noun phrase. It is typically used to represent the most foundational level of inquiry in a hierarchical causal chain. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent role as either the subject of a defining sentence or the object of a search for truth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

30%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Social Media

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ultimate explanation" is a sophisticated linguistic tool used to denote the most fundamental reason for a phenomenon. Ludwig AI indicates that it is widely accepted in high-level writing, particularly when contrasting immediate mechanisms with deeper, often evolutionary or philosophical, foundations. Whether you are writing an academic paper or a deep-dive journalistic piece, using "ultimate explanation" signals a commitment to thorough analysis. It is most effective when paired with clear context that justifies why a simpler, "proximate explanation" is insufficient for the topic at hand. Given its prevalence in authoritative sources like the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and The New York Times, it remains a staple of precise English prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental explanation

Emphasizes the basic or essential nature of the reason provided

ultimate rationale

Focuses on the underlying logic or justification behind a phenomenon

conclusive explanation

Suggests that the explanation is final and leaves no room for further questioning

final cause

Uses a more philosophical or teleological framing of the purpose behind an event

foundational reasoning

Highlights the logic that serves as the base for all subsequent points

underlying principle

Shifts the focus from a narrative explanation to a governing rule or law

root cause

Commonly used in diagnostics or business to describe the deepest source of a problem

deepest cause

A more literal way of expressing that an explanation goes beyond surface-level observations

definitive account

Implies a complete and authoritative description of why something happened

primary reason

Indicates the most important factor without necessarily claiming it is the final one

FAQs

What is a synonym for "ultimate explanation"?

A highly accurate synonym is "fundamental explanation", though in scientific contexts you might also use "ultimate cause".

How to use "ultimate explanation" in a sentence?

You can use it as the subject or object of a sentence, for example: "The "ultimate explanation" for this behavior lies in the species' evolutionary history."

What is the difference between a proximate and "ultimate explanation"?

A proximate explanation focuses on the immediate mechanism (the 'how'), whereas an "ultimate explanation" addresses the overarching purpose or evolutionary advantage (the 'why').

Is it correct to use "root cause" instead of "ultimate explanation"?

While similar, "root cause" is often used to describe the source of a problem, while "ultimate explanation" is broader and more common in philosophy and biology.