domino effect

American  

noun

1. the cumulative effect that results when one event precipitates a series of like events.

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domino effect British  

noun

1. a series of similar or related events occurring as a direct and inevitable result of one initial event

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Etymology

Origin of domino effect

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Redemption requests at managers like Blue Owl and Cliffwater are triggering a domino effect among funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The latest blackout was due to an outage in a generating unit at one of the country's eight thermoelectric plants, triggering a domino effect in the system, according to authorities.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

The selloff may have been exacerbated by a domino effect of investors trying to front-run selling their shares, in Gastwirth’s opinion.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

The raid’s domino effect has raised concerns about the welfare of children in affected households.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

Stack collapses weren’t that uncommon, and if the scaffold supports buckled at the wrong angle, the domino effect could bring down four or five of the neighboring stacks too.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline