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

Brazil imports around 85% of its fertilizer, making its soybean and maize production highly dependent on global supply chains. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026

Soy Protein Soy protein, derived from soybeans, contains isoflavones that may support heart health. —Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2026

The label for Don Gollo Bakery brand sugar cookies was missing the ingredient declaration, including allergens food coloring and soybean. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026

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

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