chicken-and-egg

American  

[chik-uhn-uhn-eg, -uhnd-] / ˈtʃɪk ən ənˈɛg, -ənd- /

Also chicken-or-egg

adjective

1. of, relating to, or being a dilemma of which of two things came first or of which is the cause and which the effect.

   a chicken-and-egg question of whether matter or energy is the basis of the universe.

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Etymology

Origin of chicken-and-egg

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

But there is a chicken-and-egg problem, in which many riders, especially women, will avoid scooters altogether if they don’t feel it’s safe enough to ride.

From The Verge

Of course, there’s a chicken-and-egg riddle here — did population growth spur new construction, or did new housing enable more people to move here?

From Seattle Times

“It’s a chicken-and-egg thing,” he continued.

From New York Times

Tension over returning to the office is a chicken-and-egg dilemma for many who are vaccinated and might come back voluntarily if others did too, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“Carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure share similar barriers to deployment previously faced by other types of critical national infrastructure, such as high capital costs and chicken-and-egg challenges, that require Federal and State support, in combination with private investment, to be overcome,” the bill reads.

From The Verge