Definitions of the domino effect

The term "domino effect" is used in its simplest sense in many fields to describe one event that causes another. The origin of the term comes from the game of domino reversal. Based on this analogy, the domino effect describes a phenomenon, usually undesirable, which causes other undesirable events to occur. It is also commonly used by political scientists and economists to describe the impact of an action that has the propensity to cause, or causes, one crisis after another.

Several definitions, particularly with regard to the chemical industry, are summarized in the literature