butterfly effect

noun

: a property of chaotic systems (such as the atmosphere) by which small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system

Examples of butterfly effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These layers should blend naturally to create the famous butterfly effect. — Dulce Moncada, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025 In a game where both teams would later add a field goal apiece and go into overtime, every point was necessary, the block becoming a butterfly effect for the rest of the night. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025 The question Ahamed was left with after his research is how Germany and France set off a butterfly effect in the 1870s. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026 The original show's opening moments see its characters watching a Russian step on the moon, and that one historical change sets off a butterfly effect creating a whole new history for mankind. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for butterfly effect

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of butterfly effect was in 1976

Rhymes for butterfly effect

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Browse Nearby Words

butterfly dolphin
butterfly effect
butterflyer
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Cite this Entry

“Butterfly effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterfly%20effect. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on butterfly effect

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about butterfly effect

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