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

They are regulated just like futures trading over the price of soybeans – but instead of focusing on commodities, users speculate on the outcomes of elections, sporting events, awards shows and more. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 28 May 2026

Fermented ingredients like Lactobacillus and soybean give the formula extra smoothing and depuffing powers. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 May 2026

Until recently, they were even considered commodities like soybeans or copper cathodes. —Tobias Burns, CNBC, 27 May 2026

The oils richest in these essential fatty acids are canola, soybean, sunflower — the very oils the guidelines are steering people away from. —Cole Hanson, STAT, 22 May 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
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between
• bromine

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