halo effect

American  

noun

1. a predisposition to admire all of a person's actions, work, etc., because of an estimable quality or action in the past.

2. Psychology. a potential inaccuracy in observation, as of a person, due to overgeneralization from a limited amount of evidence or the influence of preconceived beliefs or a priori hypotheses.

   The assumption that he is an authority on the subject is a halo effect of his Ivy League manner.

3. any desirable side effect.

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halo effect British  

noun

1. See horns and halo effect

2. the beneficial effect on sales of a company's range of products produced by the popularity or high profile of one particular product

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Etymology

Origin of halo effect

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

That’s likely a reflection of the years in which unvaccinated individuals were protected by the halo effect of others living around them who were vaccinated.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 17, 2025

Rising gold prices may also be having a halo effect on jewelry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

“There is a halo effect that westerns are seeing internationally,” Cohen said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2025

He said the platform had a "positive impact on the high street at large" as a "halo effect" often touched businesses who found that products trending on TikTok then became popular in high street stores.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025

Whenever that halo effect happened, I wanted to stare at her until the sunlight stopped, but my heart stopped before the light did.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg