side effect
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See also: side-effect
English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
side effect (plural side effects)
- An unintended consequence, or secondary result, of any action, in addition to the main or intended consequence of that action.
- 1987, Brundtland Report:
- The processing of certain raw materials - pulp and paper, oil, and alumina, for example - can have substantial environmental side effects.
- 1980, Advanced Automation for Space Missions:
- A side effect of this architecture (which was designed only for efficient fabrication) is that it also performs automated repair.
- (medicine) An unintended consequence of a drug or therapy; usually an adverse effect, not a beneficial effect.
- Hyponym: adverse effect
- (programming) A change in state outside of the local environment of the function being called.
- The Eiffel programming language is somewhat purist in insisting that functions have no side effects.
Usage notes
- Adjectives often applied to "side effect": mild, moderate, serious, severe, dangerous, unpleasant, debilitating, negative, positive, nasty, bad, horrible, terrible, painful, unexpected, unintended, strong, obvious, etc.
Synonyms
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Derived terms
Translations
unintended consequence of any action
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medicine: an adverse effect
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computing: a state change caused by a function call
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