An unintended consequence is an outcome or result that was not intended or anticipated when a particular action or decision was made.
Related terms
Blowback: Blowback refers to the unintended negative consequences that result from previously secret, illegal, or covert operations conducted by a government, often in foreign countries.
Butterfly Effect: The butterfly effect is the idea that small causes can have large effects. It suggests that even seemingly insignificant actions can lead to significant and unpredictable outcomes.
Domino Theory: The domino theory is the belief that if one country falls under communist control, neighboring countries would also fall like dominoes. It highlights how one action (the fall of one country) can lead to a chain reaction of consequences (the fall of other countries).