side effect
Americannoun
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any effect of a drug, chemical, or other medicine that is in addition to its intended effect, especially an effect that is harmful or unpleasant.
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any accompanying or consequential and usually detrimental effect.
the side effects of air pollution.
noun
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any unwanted nontherapeutic effect caused by a drug Compare aftereffect
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any secondary effect, esp an undesirable one
Etymology
Origin of side effect
First recorded in 1880–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Within two weeks, Jack says he noticed a "significant recovery" with "literally no side effects".
From BBC
In a medical setting, doctors could temporarily pause gene activity if a patient experiences stress or side effects from treatment, then restart it later when conditions improve.
From Science Daily
The drug appeared to have a safe and well-tolerated profile, with some gastrointestinal side effects that were mild to moderate, and which diminished over time, the companies said.
"Weight-loss drugs are powerful medicines and can have serious side effects, which is why they must only be prescribed by an appropriately trained healthcare professional."
From BBC
The panels have had another surprising side effect: because the grass is shielded from the elements, it's of more consistent quality.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
