unintended consequence

English

Alternative forms
  • unanticipated consequence, unforeseen consequence

Etymology

Popularized by sociologist Robert K. Merton.

Noun

unintended consequence (plural unintended consequences)

  1. (originally sociology, in the plural) An outcome of a purposeful action that is not intended or foreseen.
    • 2019 May 4, Bret Stephens, “Facebook’s Unintended Consequence”, in The New York Times‎, ISSN 0362-4331:
      Over the past several years we’ve learned a lot about the unintended consequences of social media. Platforms intended to bring us closer together make us angrier and more isolated.

See also

Further reading
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