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

Reading extension circulars bolstered her knowledge, and the farm -- which grew soybeans, oats, wheat, milo, and cotton -- thrived. —arkansasonline.com, 1 Feb. 2025

In the meantime, adding soybeans, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk in your diet will provide you with isoflavones. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025

What Are Seed Oils? Seed oils are oils extracted from seeds of plants such as corn, soybean, and canola. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 22 Jan. 2025

The world’s largest agricultural importer also bought a record amount of soybeans last year, after buyers concerned about US-China trade tensions rushed to secure US soybeans ahead of incoming US president Donald Trump’s inauguration. —Reuters, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soybean

• soybean oil

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