Synonyms

domino effect

American

noun

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

domino effect British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

domino effects

plural

Etymology

Origin of domino effect

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

domino effect

"Of course, it could turn out that the domino effect is even bigger than what we currently have."

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

A fall can lead to broken bones, and remaining sedentary for weeks or months while recovering can have a domino effect on a senior’s health.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

“Previous experience shows that once a country introduces restrictions there is a domino effect and that could fuel inflationary pressures,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

“I truly felt I would be able to do all these shows in spite of the recent medical domino effect that has occurred,” Michaels wrote on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

That letter had caused a domino effect of events that pitted Regan against me in a simulation test that just so happened to also be testing for compatibility for the partner program.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023