by-product

noun

ˈbī-ˌprä-(ˌ)dəkt How to pronounce by-product (audio)
Definition of by-productnext
as in derivation
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else hydrogen is one by-product of that chemical reaction

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of by-product The grade, in his classroom, is a by-product of learning rather than a substitute for it. — Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026 And those are applied on a product-by-product basis, usually after people have been injured or killed. — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026 The good news, said Helen Lewis in The Atlantic, is that all this drama is a by-product of the league’s astonishing success. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 22 Aug. 2026 Netflix execs no doubt long ago figured out how to tune out the nattering nabobs of negativism, understanding that such scrutiny — from both consumers and the press — is the unavoidable by-product of success. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by-product
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by-product
  1. derivation
  2. derivative
  3. derivate
  4. result
  5. product
Noun
  • Language itself was an obsession, with many family dinners ending with Davis pulling out his unabridged Oxford English Dictionary to share the derivation of a word.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Many forms of divination have been practiced historically in Africa, but divination techniques found in Hoodoo have sometimes been of European derivation; for instance, Hoodoo frequently employs cartomancy, or divination using playing cards.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of derivation
Noun
  • The team used derivatives of triptycene, a molecule whose three planes form a propeller-like arrangement.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • John Williams, who leads the derivatives practice at law firm Milbank LLP, says investors are seeking numerous ways beyond buying CDS to hedge their bets with respect to the AI trade.
    — Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of derivative
Noun
  • While Apple shares were up more than 4% in trading Friday, all of the derivate plays were trading in the red.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 1 May 2026
  • With unique enough lore and a unique style, Saxon avoids making a derivate fable.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Definition of derivate
Noun
  • Dividing the task between specialist biocomputing groups returned even higher results (about 80%).
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a lot left to get back on the right track — especially with the New York Giants figuring things out at the top of the division — but Monday’s result could serve as the launching pad for a run in the next few weeks.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of result
Noun
  • There are no dates on the food products in the refrigerator and walk-in cooler.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Karen Fernandez, lead esthetician at SkinSpirit, told Byrdie the theory is to let skin rebuild its protective stratum corneum layer, and that cutting back can also help identify products causing irritation or breakouts.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of product

Browse Nearby Words

bypaths
by-product
by-products
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By-product.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by-product. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of reticent

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All