Meaning & use
chain reaction
Last updated
A sequence of events in which each one causes the next, often with escalating or self-sustaining effects.
See it in a sentence
The layoffs at the factory set off a chain reaction of closures throughout the local economy.
In nuclear fission, a single split atom can trigger a chain reaction that releases enormous energy.
A note on using this word
The term originated in physics and chemistry to describe self-perpetuating reactions, such as nuclear fission, before becoming a common metaphor for any cascading sequence of events.
Words with a similar meaning
domino effectcascade
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