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

The White House says China agreed to buy 12 million bushels of soybeans this year and about double that next year. —Kirk Siegler, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025

Nutrition of Ezekiel Bread Ezekiel bread is made from four whole grains (wheat, barley, millet, and spelt) and two legumes (lentils and soybeans), all of which are organic and sprouted. —Lauren O'Connor, Health, 28 Dec. 2025

For instance, lentil and soybean sprouts have more protein than mung bean sprouts, while mung bean sprouts contain more fiber and sugar than alfalfa, lentil, or soybean sprouts. —Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2025

But that was just weeks before Bessent flew to Malaysia to meet with Chinese counterparts and hash out the framework of a deal that crucially included a commitment to buy American soybeans. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025

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