For medicine, see etiology (medicine) . Etiology (/iːtiˈɒlədʒi/ ; alternatively aetiology or aetiology) ætiology is the study of, causation or. Origination the word is derived from The greek, αἰτιολογία, aitiologia giving a reason (for, αἰτία, aitia; cause -and, -λογία). logia