butterfly effect
The 'butterfly effect' is a concept in chaos theory that illustrates how small changes can lead to significant and unpredictable consequences.
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Definition
C1Chaos Theory
(technical, academic)The phenomenon where minor changes in initial conditions can lead to large and unpredictable variations in the future state of a system.
Example
- In chaos theory, the butterfly effect suggests that a butterfly flapping its wings could theoretically cause a tornado weeks later.
B2General
(metaphorical)The idea that small actions or events can cause significant and widespread consequences over time.
Example
- A simple decision made years ago might have a butterfly effect, leading to unexpected outcomes today.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "butterfly effect":