1
be contributory to sth
形容词用法，后接介词 to，表示“对……起作用，是……的部分原因”。
Her evidence was contributory to the final decision.
她的证词促成了最终裁定。
促成的；起作用的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
促成的；起作用的
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
Her evidence was contributory to the final decision.
她的证词促成了最终裁定。
贡献的；有关贡献的。
Of, pertaining to, or involving a contribution.
起促成作用的；有助于结果的。
Tending to contribute to a result.
Lack of sleep is a contributory factor in many serious health problems.
睡眠不足是许多严重健康问题的一个促成因素。
The heavy rain was a contributory cause of the flooding in the village.
这场大雨是村庄发生洪水的部分原因。
His careless comments were contributory to the team's poor morale.
他那些轻率的评论对团队士气低落起了一定的促成作用。
形容词用法，后接介词 to，表示“对……起作用，是……的部分原因”。
Her evidence was contributory to the final decision.
她的证词促成了最终裁定。
常见搭配，指众多原因中的一项；contributory 在此作定语形容词。
Stress is a contributory factor in many illnesses.
压力是许多疾病的一个促成因素。
法律术语，指受害人自身对损害也有过错的情况，常译作“共同过失”。
The plaintiff's contributory negligence reduced the damages.
原告自身的共同过失减少了赔偿金额。
名词用法，较正式，相当于 contributor；复数形式为 contributories。
He was a contributory to the relief fund.
他是救济基金的一位捐助者。
Not this
His laziness was a contribution factor to his failure.
Use this
His laziness was a contributory factor to his failure.
此处需要形容词作定语修饰factor，表示“促成的”，英语用contributory；contribution是名词，表示“贡献”，不能作定语修饰factor表达此义。
Not this
His speed was contributory for the accident.
Use this
His speed was contributory to the accident.
形容词contributory表示“促成……的”时搭配介词to而非for，构成contributory to sth。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
促成因素
Stress is a major contributory factor in many heart diseases.
压力是许多心脏病的主要促成因素。
共同过失
The court reduced the damages because of the plaintiff's contributory negligence.
因原告存在共同过失，法院减少了赔偿金。
促成作用
Genes play a contributory role in the development of the disease.
基因在该疾病的发生中起促成作用。
Use contributory naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
词中藏着 contribute（贡献），一件事的促成往往靠各方各贡献一份力，contributory 就是“促成/起作用”的意思。
语域：formal 常见场景：法律/保险条文、正式报告或学术写作 作“促成……的、起部分作用的”讲时，通常用于正式或法律语境，比较常见于书面报告或法律用语中；日常口语较少使用。
与 contributory 真正押韵的只有 tributary（两者从重读音节 /-trɪbjətəri/ 起相同）。statutory、voluntary、inventory、explanatory、contradictory 只是拼写上有 -tory/-tary，看起来像，但重音或元音不同，因此不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.