Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

domino effect

noun
/ˈdɒm.ɪ.nəʊ ɪˈfɛkt/
Definition
A situation in which one event causes a chain of similar events to happen subsequently.
Examples
  • When the stock market started to drop, many investors feared a domino effect would lead to a broader economic downturn.
  • The changes in government policy created a domino effect that impacted various sectors of the economy.
  • One minor mistake at the beginning of the project led to a domino effect, resulting in several major errors.
Meaning
The domino effect refers to a scenario where an initial action or event triggers a series of related happenings, often leading to significant consequences.
Synonyms
  • chain reaction
  • ripple effect
  • snowball effect