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

For example, Impossible Foods uses a compound called leghemoglobin (a heme protein derived from soybeans) to flavor its meat alternatives. — Lila Magbilang, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026

Edamame Edamame, or immature soybeans, is naturally rich in both protein and fiber. — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026

Trade disputes and retaliatory tariffs have weighed on grain and soybean markets just as the Iran war has driven up fuel costs. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

How single-stock futures and futures margin work Single-stock futures function in similar ways to long-standing standardized futures based on crude oil, gold, or soybeans. — Bruce Blythe, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 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