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
Umair IrfanOver 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
theguardian.com (London)Examples of knock-on effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another worry is the potential knock-on effect in many Eastern Kentucky communities, where hospitals are among the biggest employers and big contributors to the local economy.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Consequently, this has had immediate knock-on effects for Good Smile Company, Tokyo Otaku Mode, AmiAmi, and HobbyLink Japan, all of which have released similar statements about the matter.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
For American consumers, who are already seeing a higher price tag on their clothing goods, the new higher tariffs in India could have a knock-on effect.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Looming over all those issues is China, which has built out a mammoth, if not yet cutting-edge, shipbuilding sector, and whose threats against Taiwan could have a knock-on effect towards American commitments to safeguarding South Korea, Seoul fears.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
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Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Consequently, this has had immediate knock-on effects for Good Smile Company, Tokyo Otaku Mode, AmiAmi, and HobbyLink Japan, all of which have released similar statements about the matter.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
For American consumers, who are already seeing a higher price tag on their clothing goods, the new higher tariffs in India could have a knock-on effect.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Looming over all those issues is China, which has built out a mammoth, if not yet cutting-edge, shipbuilding sector, and whose threats against Taiwan could have a knock-on effect towards American commitments to safeguarding South Korea, Seoul fears.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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