noun
cause of trouble; root of misfortune
A somewhat formal or literary noun for the underlying cause of a problem or disaster. Often used in analytical or explanatory contexts.
その政策の失敗が混乱の禍因となった。
The failure of that policy became the cause of the turmoil.
彼は組織の衰退の禍因を分析した。
He analyzed the root causes of the organization's decline.