butterfly effect
Say it: BUT-uh-fly ih-FEKT /ˈbʌtəflaɪ ɪˌfɛkt/ · noun
What “butterfly effect” means
Tiny changes can lead to huge, unpredictable differences later.
More precisely: The idea that tiny changes in a complex system can lead to huge, unpredictable consequences.
When to use it
In science or reflective conversation, when a tiny starting difference leads to a surprisingly different outcome later.
Similar words
chaos theory, sensitive dependence
Where it comes from
From meteorologist Edward Lorenz's question of whether a butterfly's flap could cause a tornado.
Quick check
Two weather simulations start with a tiny temperature difference but predict entirely different storms a week later. What does this illustrate?
a domino effect or the butterfly effect?
Show the answer
the butterfly effect
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