Definition

A secondary effect or condition that occurs alongside a primary phenomenon but does not directly influence it.

Example

The patient's fatigue was considered an epiphenomenon of the underlying illness.

Conversation

I was reading about how stress can sometimes be just an epiphenomenon of other issues.

That's interesting! So, it’s like a side effect of something else?

Exactly! It makes you think about how interconnected our feelings and physical health are.

For sure, it's wild how one thing can lead to another in our bodies.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Epiphenomenon is formed from "epi-" (meaning upon or over) and "phainomenon" (from Greek "phainesthai", meaning to appear or to show). The term describes a secondary effect or byproduct that arises from a primary phenomenon, appearing alongside it but not influencing it directly.

Memory Tip

Think of something that appears 'upon' ('epi-') another thing, like a shadow that shows up alongside an object but doesn't change it. This helps you remember that an epiphenomenon is a secondary effect that appears with a primary cause.

Visually Confused Words