California effect

proper noun

The supposed shift of consumer, environmental and other regulations in the direction of political jurisdictions with stricter regulatory standards.

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Meanings

proper nounthe California effect
  1. governmentThe supposed shift of consumer, environmental and other regulations in the direction of political jurisdictions with stricter regulatory standards.

Origin

Derived from the spread of some advanced environmental regulatory standards that were originally adopted by the U.S. state of California and eventually adopted in other states.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

California effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/California%20effect

MLA

“California effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/California%20effect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “California effect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/California%20effect.

Source: California effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.