knock-on effect

noun

plural knock-on effects
chiefly British
: an indirect or secondary effect
The heat wave has had critical knock-on effects. Surging electricity demand and stress on the power grid triggered power outages …Umair Irfan
Over the past 12 months, asking prices [for houses] have gone up by 9.5%. This has a knock-on effect for renters. UK rents rose by 8.3% in the last three months …theguardian.com (London)
compare domino effect, ripple effect

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of knock-on effect was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near knock-on effect

Cite this Entry

“Knock-on effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knock-on%20effect. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on knock-on effect

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!