/ ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn; NAmE / noun
[ usually pl. ] one of the large number of complicated and unexpected results that follow an action or a decision
SYN complication :
These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from French , from ramifier form branches, from medieval Latin ramificare , from Latin ramus branch.