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
However, as a by-product of PUNCH's entire polarimetric measurements, scientists will manage to make the most comprehensive polarimetric star map ever made, which will be invaluable to astrophysicists studying the properties of stars, such as magnetic activity.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
So, some embarrassment may be an unavoidable by-product of doing what needs to be done.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2025
The researchers then analyzed the samples to identify the genes and chemical by-products (and therefore the types of microbial species) that were present.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 27 Feb. 2025
Knowing this reality, tomorrow’s leaders would do well to realize that corporate culture is often a by-product of the leader’s ethos.
—Albert Kim, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by-product
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Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
So, some embarrassment may be an unavoidable by-product of doing what needs to be done.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2025
The researchers then analyzed the samples to identify the genes and chemical by-products (and therefore the types of microbial species) that were present.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 27 Feb. 2025
Knowing this reality, tomorrow’s leaders would do well to realize that corporate culture is often a by-product of the leader’s ethos.
—Albert Kim, Forbes, 27 Feb. 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 Mar. 2025.
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