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 WasExamples of by-product in a Sentence
hydrogen is one by-product of that chemical reaction
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump’s failure to provide details may be strategic, or a by-product of his occasional disdain for them.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
Erwitt’s sense of humor seems to have been the by-product of an unconventional upbringing.
—airmail.news, 5 July 2025
That limited exposure to sunlight resulted in pale skin as a by-product of labor.
—Nana Regueiro, Vogue, 2 July 2025
The more diverse your diet, the more beneficial by-products your gut can create.
—Patricia Weiser, Verywell Health, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for by-product
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Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
Erwitt’s sense of humor seems to have been the by-product of an unconventional upbringing.
—airmail.news, 5 July 2025
That limited exposure to sunlight resulted in pale skin as a by-product of labor.
—Nana Regueiro, Vogue, 2 July 2025
The more diverse your diet, the more beneficial by-products your gut can create.
—Patricia Weiser, Verywell Health, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for by-product
Cite this Entry
“By-product.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by-product. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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