spin-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈspin-ˌȯf 

1

: the distribution by a business to its stockholders of particular assets and especially of stock of another company

also : the new company created by such a distribution

2

: a collateral or derived product or effect : by-product

also : a number of such products

the spin-off from the space program

3

: something that is imitative or derivative of an earlier work, product, or establishment

especially : a television show starring a character popular in a secondary role of an earlier show

spin off

2 of 2

verb

spun off; spinning off; spins off

transitive verb

: to establish or produce as a spin-off

the company spun off its computer division

spin off a new TV series

intransitive verb

: to establish or become a spin-off

Synonyms

Noun

• by-product
• derivate
• derivation
• derivative
• offshoot
• outgrowth

Examples of spin-off in a Sentence

Noun

a spin-off of the popular television series

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After the spin-off of the company’s construction services business, which was completed on November 1, MDU shares traded down 4%. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024

He’s known as the first person to direct episodes of Doctor Who and spin-off Torchwood and has credits for The White Queen, Being Human and Da Vinci’s Demons. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Forecasters predict Rafael will spin off towards the western Gulf of Mexico later this week, though the track remains uncertain, the hurricane center said. —Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

That means the company could sell or spin off the chain, which has also long been struggling. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1950, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

spin-off

noun

ˈspin-ˌȯf

1

: something that results from work done to produce a different product : by-product

household products that are spin-offs of space research

2

: something that imitates or comes from an earlier work or product

a spin-off of a hit TV show

Legal Definition

spin-off

noun

ˈspin-ˌȯf, -ˌäf

: a transfer of corporate assets to a subsidiary in return for a distribution to the shareholders of the corporation of all of the stock or controlling stock of the subsidiary without surrender of any stock by the shareholders of the corporation : a D reorganization involving a distribution of the stock of another company to the corporation's shareholders

also : a new company created by such a distribution compare split-off, split-up