soybean

noun

soy·​bean ˈsȯi-ˌbēn 

variants or chiefly British soya bean

ˈsȯi-ə- 

: a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) widely grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement

also : its seed

Illustration of soybean

Examples of soybean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s widely used on crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, cotton, and almonds, and it is sold for residential lawn and garden use. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Mar. 2026

Besides the cooling, calming eucalyptus oil, the cream also contains soybean and linseed oil to deeply moisturize the skin and leave it looking baby smooth, with no signs of dry patches, flakes, or redness in sight. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026

The herbicide is commonly applied to crops, such as corn and soybeans, that have been genetically modified to withstand its effects. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 27 Feb. 2026

Shelled Edamame with Sea Salt Edamame are young, green soybeans, which provide fiber and protein and make a convenient, feel-good snack option. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soybean

• soybean oil

Rhymes for soybean

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

soybean

noun

soy·​bean ˈsȯi-ˈbēn 

-ˌbēn

: a hairy annual Asian plant of the legume family widely grown for its edible seeds rich in oil and proteins, as food for livestock, and for soil improvement

also : its seed

Medical Definition

soybean

noun

soy·​bean ˈsȯi-ˌbēn 

variants also soya bean

: a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement

also : its seed