bandwagon effect
1
4.4
- noun
- /ˈbændˌwæɡən ɪˈfɛkt/
:
efecto de arrastre
- The documentary sparked a bandwagon effect among viewers who began supporting environmental initiatives after watching.
Examples
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If the Texas statute survives, "there will be a bandwagon effect," says Widener University's Furrow.
Academic text (2000) -
A conventional conference tends to be dominated by particularly strong personalities or to give rise to an undesirable bandwagon effect (Linstone 1985).
Academic text (1993) -
So common is this phenomenon that scientists have a term for it: "the bandwagon effect."
Academic text (1993) -
First, the bandwagon effect affects fundraising.
Blog text (29) -
The bandwagon effect emerged gradually in the technology debates of the mid to late 1980s.
Academic text (1996) -
They also indicate that, though the initial impact on textiles will be small, there is likely to be a bandwagon effect.
Academic text (1992) -
It is for these reasons that fads, fashions, and bandwagon effects can be found in academia, including the academic study of law.
Academic text (2001) -
A bandwagon effect led other parties to seek formal alliances with the governing coalition (as did the conservative Partido Progressiva Reformista) or informal ones (as did the PMDB).
Academic text (1996) -
The popularity of the new smartphone created a bandwagon effect, with many people buying it just because others were.
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As influencers started using that fashion brand, a noticeable bandwagon effect encouraged more consumers to try it.
Synonyms
4
7.2
The quick spread of an emotion or feeling among people
A habit of following popular trends that do not last
Antonyms
How Influential
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward noun+noun composition: 'effect' (a change produced) of a 'bandwagon' (a fashionable cause gaining support), so the overall meaning is the effect produced by people joining a bandwagon — i.e., the tendency to adopt things because others do. While 'bandwagon' itself is metaphorical, if a learner already knows that word the combined meaning follows standard compositional logic and is directly inferable.
Etymology
Bandwagon effect may come from old parade wagons that carried a music band, and when the band played people would jump onto the wagon to join the fun. So when many people start doing something, others 'jump on the bandwagon' and the phrase means 'to follow the crowd'.