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

Whatever the ramifications of the deal to the company’s internal workings, Murdoch clearly hopes buying Roku makes Fox more of a force in the media sector. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 June 2026

And the conflict’s drain on men of fighting age has had ramifications for the rest of the Russian economy, which is now dealing with a wider labor crisis. —Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 June 2026

His ability to defeat those teams had few ramifications for his true World Cup prospects against diverse global competition. —Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

The effective closure of the narrow waterway, which normally carries around a fifth of the world's oil supply, has led to global economic ramifications, with energy prices soaring and an uptick in inflation. —Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 12 June 2026

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