spin-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈspin-ˌȯf 

1

: the distribution by a business to its stockholders of particular assets and especially of stock of another company

also : the new company created by such a distribution

2

: a collateral or derived product or effect : by-product

also : a number of such products

the spin-off from the space program

3

: something that is imitative or derivative of an earlier work, product, or establishment

especially : a television show starring a character popular in a secondary role of an earlier show

spin off

2 of 2

verb

spun off; spinning off; spins off

transitive verb

: to establish or produce as a spin-off

the company spun off its computer division

spin off a new TV series

intransitive verb

: to establish or become a spin-off

Synonyms of spin-off

Noun

• derivative
• derivation
• derivate

Examples of spin-off in a Sentence

Noun

a spin-off of the popular television series

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

About the Honeywell spin-offs Honeywell Technologies has over 1,100 employees in Charlotte and more than 50,000 employees total. — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Gerry played character Joey Phillips on the ABC series Station 19, a spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy, which was cancelled ahead of its seventh season airing in 2024. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Verb

Fresh off the Versant spin, which took effect last January, Comcast is now busy working on another, spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky into a standalone company, separate from the Connectivity & Platforms business. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 July 2026

Comcast plans to spin off Peacock, NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, Bravo, Universal film, television studios and theme parks and British TV service Sky into its own separate company, with a goal of completing the separation in about a year. — Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1950, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for spin-off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

spin-off

noun

ˈspin-ˌȯf

1

: something that results from work done to produce a different product : by-product

household products that are spin-offs of space research

2

: something that imitates or comes from an earlier work or product

a spin-off of a hit TV show

Legal Definition

spin-off

noun

ˈspin-ˌȯf, -ˌäf

: a transfer of corporate assets to a subsidiary in return for a distribution to the shareholders of the corporation of all of the stock or controlling stock of the subsidiary without surrender of any stock by the shareholders of the corporation : a D reorganization involving a distribution of the stock of another company to the corporation's shareholders

also : a new company created by such a distribution compare split-off, split-up