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
In countries where films have been reduced to mere by-products of the wider audiovisual industry, cinema itself faces an existential threat.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Adding Tren de Aragua to this particular cause was a by-product of the 2024 Presidential campaign.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
By volume alone, slop may be the most visible and successful by-product of the generative-AI era to date.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
The technology promises to cut emissions, reduce energy use, and open new revenue streams for biodiesel producers who currently pay to dispose of the by-product.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by-product
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Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Adding Tren de Aragua to this particular cause was a by-product of the 2024 Presidential campaign.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
By volume alone, slop may be the most visible and successful by-product of the generative-AI era to date.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
The technology promises to cut emissions, reduce energy use, and open new revenue streams for biodiesel producers who currently pay to dispose of the by-product.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2025.
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