ramification

noun

ram·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌra-mə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: branch, offshoot

b

: a branched structure

2

a

: the act or process of branching

b

: arrangement of branches (as on a plant)

3

: consequence, outgrowth

the ramifications of the decision

Examples of ramification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ramifications of this could be enormous. —Contessa Brewer,alex Sherman, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025

There are plenty of historically problematic ramifications to starting an NFL season 0-2. —Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025

Both the Commanders and the Packers have playoff aspirations, and the outcome of this game could have large ramifications for the NFC playoff picture come the end of the regular season. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Premier League teams committing to over £3billion in spending this summer doesn’t just keep us all busy through the summer; decisions made recently will have ramifications far into the future, both within and beyond English borders. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for ramification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

ramification

noun

ram·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌram-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act or process of branching

2

: outgrowth sense 1

the ramifications of the decision

Medical Definition

ramification

noun

ram·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌram-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act or process of branching

specifically : the mode of arrangement of branches

2

: a branch or offshoot from a main stock or channel

the ramification of an artery

also : the resulting branched structure

make visible the whole ramification of the dendrite