Quantcast
Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Scrabble
  • Spanish Central
  • Learner's Dictionary

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

offshoot

play
noun off·shoot \ˈȯf-ˌshüt\

Simple Definition of offshoot

  • : something (such as a business) that develops from something larger

  • : a branch that grows on one of the main stems of a plant

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of offshoot

  1. 1 a :  a collateral or derived branch, descendant, or member :  outgrowth b :  a lateral branch (as of a mountain range)

  2. 2 :  a branch of a main stem especially of a plant

See offshoot defined for English-language learners

See offshoot defined for kids



Examples of offshoot in a sentence

  1. The business started as an offshoot of an established fashion design company.

  2. <we knew the rosebush had survived the harsh winter when it began producing offshoots and turning green again>



1710

First Known Use of offshoot

1710

offshoot Synonyms

Synonyms
outgrowth, shoot, sprout
Antonyms
origin, root, source

OFFSHOOT Defined for Kids

offshoot

play
noun off·shoot \ˈof-ˌshüt\

Definition of offshoot for Students

  1. :  a branch of a main stem of a plant



Learn More about offshoot

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for offshoot Spanish Central: Translation of offshoot Nglish: Translation of offshoot for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of offshoot for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about offshoot

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up offshoot? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

iota

play

a very small amount

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. demagogic, demagogue "irresponsible, reckless rhetoric"

  2. skittle What is a 'skittle'?

  3. hubris, pariah Powell's take on Trump

  4. deplorable Clinton: "Basket of deplorables"

  5. sophomoric "It's a sophomoric approach"

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

offshoot

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

alphabet-pasta-spelling-help

Which is the correct spelling?

acommadate acommodate accommodate accomodate
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

between-you-and-i
'Between You and I'

Don't let this phrase come between you

shopping-mall
'Mall': It's Not Just for Shopping

It used to be all fun and games

three-sheets-to-the-wind
10 Words and Phrases with Nautical Origins

Take to the sea

prone-vs-supine
Prone vs. Supine vs. Prostrate

Don't take this lying down

Ask the Editors

subjunctive
How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Can you spell these 15 tricky spelling words?

Take the quiz
who-knew-quiz
Who Knew?

Take this quiz and discover 12 words for things you didn't know had words.

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: offshoot in a sentence