Meaning & use
epiphenomenal
Being a secondary effect that accompanies a process without itself causing or influencing that process.
See it in a sentence
Some philosophers argue that consciousness is merely epiphenomenal, arising from brain activity without affecting it.
The symptom turned out to be epiphenomenal rather than a true cause of the disease.
A note on using this word
A technical term from philosophy and science, especially debates about mind and causation.
Words with a similar meaning
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