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

Rail Baltica now has military ramifications rather than just economic ones. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025

Presumably that was primarily a political debate over the substantive issue and not the procedural ramifications. —Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

Investors have not only been concerned about the impact of Trump’s tariffs on DuPont’s China market, but also about the ramifications of a deteriorating economy on its financials, particularly given the cyclical nature of its consumer electronics and autos businesses. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 9 May 2025

The class action lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, accused the company of not promptly adjusting its 2025 net earnings outlook to factor in the ramifications that Thompson’s death would have on operations. —Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 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