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 Was
Synonyms
Examples of by-product in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Regardless of where or how it’s made, rum must be distilled from sugarcane—either the juice extracted from the pressed sugarcane stalks; cane syrup, which is the juice boiled down to remove some of the water; or molasses, a sugarcane by-product.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Glenfiddich, for example, has started using AI to minimize energy consumption and manage by-products more efficiently, contributing to a more sustainable whiskey production process.
—Neil Sahota, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Ebb’s facility, which will eventually run day and night, will generate up to 20 liters a minute of hydrogen as a by-product.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2024
His emphasis on the logistics of solidarity reminds us that moral advances are neither a salutary by-product of economics or technology, as Zakaria seems to think, nor a matter of progressive inevitability.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Why Nashville Loves Hattie B's Part of that, says Nick Bishop Jr. (Hattie B's co-owner and operator, along with Nick Bishop Sr.) is a natural by-product of their dedication to ensuring the core menu items are well prepared and always available.
—Timothy Charles Davis, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024
Anita Dunn, a senior adviser who specializes in communications, considers that a by-product of age.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Color is a by-product of the specific ingredients of each beer, principally the barley, wheat, rye or other grains.
—Jay R. Brooks, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
And maybe the same should be said throughout the country, given our housing crisis is a by-product of a vast supply shortage, estimated to be anywhere between roughly two million and seven million homes.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Glenfiddich, for example, has started using AI to minimize energy consumption and manage by-products more efficiently, contributing to a more sustainable whiskey production process.
—Neil Sahota, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Ebb’s facility, which will eventually run day and night, will generate up to 20 liters a minute of hydrogen as a by-product.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2024
His emphasis on the logistics of solidarity reminds us that moral advances are neither a salutary by-product of economics or technology, as Zakaria seems to think, nor a matter of progressive inevitability.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Why Nashville Loves Hattie B's Part of that, says Nick Bishop Jr. (Hattie B's co-owner and operator, along with Nick Bishop Sr.) is a natural by-product of their dedication to ensuring the core menu items are well prepared and always available.
—Timothy Charles Davis, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024
Anita Dunn, a senior adviser who specializes in communications, considers that a by-product of age.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Color is a by-product of the specific ingredients of each beer, principally the barley, wheat, rye or other grains.
—Jay R. Brooks, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
And maybe the same should be said throughout the country, given our housing crisis is a by-product of a vast supply shortage, estimated to be anywhere between roughly two million and seven million homes.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by-product.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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 16 Apr. 2024.
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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
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