by-product

noun

by-prod·​uct ˈbī-ˌprä-(ˌ)dəkt How to pronounce by-product (audio)
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
Small 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
Meat by-products are parts other than meat, including organs, blood and bone …Amy D. Shojai
Among the most commonly occurring and thoroughly studied chlorination byproducts are trihalomethanes …Consumer Reports
2
: 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
As investor confidence grows, overspending and overborrowing are typically byproducts of an aging bull market.Carolyn Bigda
One of the by-products of the information age is an increasing number of data formats.John Was

Examples of by-product in a Sentence

hydrogen is one by-product of that chemical reaction
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Soaked by several days of rain, the by-product of a nearby typhoon, the Tokyo International Film Festival and its accompanying TIFFCOM industry event might have been forgiven for being a little soggy. Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024 There, the principles of sustainability form a positive feedback loop, especially in the bar’s commitment to incorporating by-products of the various drink-making processes into other cocktails. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2024 The brand operates as a carbon-neutral company, employing eco-friendly practices like sustainable farming and reusing production by-products as fertilizer. Rachel King, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 The search for environmentally friendlier methods that skip those additional steps has led materials scientists down some unusual alleyways: For instance, an aerogel made from whey protein—a cheese by-product—can capture gold ions from computer motherboards bathed in acid. Ben Guarino, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for by-product 

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of by-product was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near by-product

Cite this Entry

“By-product.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by-product. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

by-product

noun
by-prod·​uct
ˈbī-ˌpräd-(ˌ)əkt
: a product or result produced in addition to the main product or result

More from Merriam-Webster on by-product

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