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Glite Dictionary
on account of

on account of

66 1.7
Because of something such as illness or rain
  • idiom
translation icon : debido a
  • We got the day off on account of the rain.
  • on account of religion
  • largely on account of
  • on account of the fact

And he says don't shun them on account of their harshness or being difficult, right?

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Examples

  • As it is, women economic migrants suffer not only on account of poverty but also on account of gender.

    Academic text (2008)

  • I owe him big-time, on account of past favors too numerous to mention.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Wants to take you out anyway, on account of a past situation.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • It's not happening on account of healthcare reform.

  • Well, son, it looks like we may have to call this game on account of darkness.

    Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

  • My auntie told me not to run on account of my asthma.

    Lord of the Flies (1963)

  • In most Chapter 7 cases, unsecured creditors receive virtually nothing on account of their claims.

    Academic text (2017)

  • In practice, these new regulations will deny entry to many people fleeing Syria on account of real threats to their lives and freedoms.

  • It seems our friend T-bird won't be joining us this evening... on account of a slight case of death.

    The Crow (1994)

  • We got the day off on account of the rain.

Synonyms

because of
vson account of
∞ 1.0

For a reason that explains why something happened

has the same causal meaning but is more informal
due to
vson account of
∞ 1.0

Because of something

is a common causal phrase used across speech and writing
by virtue of
vson account of
  • Formal
25 4.5

Because of something

is a neutral causal expression without authority implication
in view of
vson account of
  • Formal
25 3.5

Use when you think about a fact or situation in a decision

expresses direct causation or result not mere consideration
in virtue of
vson account of
  • Formal
1 7.5

Because of a quality, fact, or agreement

is the regular causal phrasing used in everyday contexts

Antonyms

irrespective
1 5.3

Without considering things like age or nationality

Surface Forms

on account of main

Morphology

on + account + of

The meaning 'because of' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'account' in the sense 'reason/consideration' combined with the prepositional frame 'on ... of' forms a causative prepositional phrase. This compositional pattern is common across languages (e.g., a causa de, à cause de) and follows regular English prepositional semantics, so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

On account of comes from the idea of writing an account — a short note of the reason — next to an action or event, so saying something happened on account of X means 'because of' X.