by-product
noun
by-prod·uct
ˈbī-ˌprä-(ˌ)dəkt 
variants
or byproduct
plural by-products or byproducts
1
: something produced in a usually industrial or biological process in addition to the principal product
Sulfured molasses is a by-product of sugar refining.—
Wayne Gisslen
Wayne GisslenSmall amounts of amyloid beta are generated as an ordinary metabolic byproduct and are believed to do no harm, but larger amounts seem to be tied to Alzheimer's.—January W. Payne
January W. PayneMeat by-products are parts other than meat, including organs, blood and bone …—Amy D. Shojai
Amy D. ShojaiAmong the most commonly occurring and thoroughly studied chlorination byproducts are trihalomethanes …—Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports2
: a secondary and sometimes unexpected or unintended result
Japan's success as an international exporter of manufactured goods is a by-product of the volatile trade among Japanese cities.—Jane Jacobs
Jane JacobsAs investor confidence grows, overspending and overborrowing are typically byproducts of an aging bull market.—Carolyn Bigda
Carolyn BigdaOne of the by-products of the information age is an increasing number of data formats.—John Was
John WasExamples of by-product in a Sentence
hydrogen is one by-product of that chemical reaction
Recent Examples on the Web
Mental mistakes are often a natural by-product of a flexible, adaptive mind.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Left untreated, amino acid metabolic disorders can lead to a buildup of toxic by-products or a deficiency of essential nutrients.
—Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2025
As a by-product, the plasma balls generated shock waves that traveled through the surrounding hydrogen.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Samui Many of the non-Thai staff insist that a certain agreeableness is natural to Thai culture, a by-product of Buddhism.
—Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by-product
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Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Left untreated, amino acid metabolic disorders can lead to a buildup of toxic by-products or a deficiency of essential nutrients.
—Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2025
As a by-product, the plasma balls generated shock waves that traveled through the surrounding hydrogen.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Samui Many of the non-Thai staff insist that a certain agreeableness is natural to Thai culture, a by-product of Buddhism.
—Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by-product
Cite this Entry
“By-product.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by-product. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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