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 WasSynonyms
Examples of by-product in a Sentence
hydrogen is one by-product of that chemical reaction
Recent Examples on the Web
The pipeline between the two schools is a by-product of the relationship built by Locksley and Cavaliers coach Kyle Schmidt, who started 27 games at center and guard under former Terps coach Ralph Friedgen and served as a graduate assistant with the program in 2007 and 2008.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2024
But unlike EVs or renewable energy—industries that Beijing and private companies recognized as strategic opportunities early on—analysts suggest that China’s dominance of mature chips is instead a by-product of other policies.
—Luba Kassova, Fortune Asia, 5 July 2024
Pretty privilege is an uncomfortable topic, both for those who are overlooked or dismissed in favor of preferable looks, and for those whose successes and individual agency are undermined as a by-product of their appearance.
—Sable Yong, TIME, 28 June 2024
Not only does the smelting process use just solar power and seawater, its main by-product is magnesium oxide, which, when released into the ocean, helps sequester carbon.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for by-product 
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2024
But unlike EVs or renewable energy—industries that Beijing and private companies recognized as strategic opportunities early on—analysts suggest that China’s dominance of mature chips is instead a by-product of other policies.
—Luba Kassova, Fortune Asia, 5 July 2024
Pretty privilege is an uncomfortable topic, both for those who are overlooked or dismissed in favor of preferable looks, and for those whose successes and individual agency are undermined as a by-product of their appearance.
—Sable Yong, TIME, 28 June 2024
Not only does the smelting process use just solar power and seawater, its main by-product is magnesium oxide, which, when released into the ocean, helps sequester carbon.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for by-product
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by-product.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near by-product
Cite this Entry
“By-product.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by-product. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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