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
Qatar also provides a third of the world’s helium, a by-product of natural-gas production and a key ingredient in the manufacturing of computer chips and medical imaging equipment.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Gas flares — huge 25-foot flames that are created when hydrocarbons (a by-product of oil extraction) are burned off into the atmosphere.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Due to the underwater belt’s sheer size, the monumental construction revealed a community dependent on whaling, as by-products became commodities to be exchanged and traded between these local groups.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The common thread is tartaric acid, which is in cream of tartar, tamarind pods, and grapes and raisins; in fact, cream of tartar is a by-product of winemaking.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
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Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Gas flares — huge 25-foot flames that are created when hydrocarbons (a by-product of oil extraction) are burned off into the atmosphere.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Due to the underwater belt’s sheer size, the monumental construction revealed a community dependent on whaling, as by-products became commodities to be exchanged and traded between these local groups.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The common thread is tartaric acid, which is in cream of tartar, tamarind pods, and grapes and raisins; in fact, cream of tartar is a by-product of winemaking.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
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 30 Mar. 2026.
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