by-product

[ bahy-prod-uhkt ]

noun

1. a secondary or incidental product, as in a process of manufacture.
2. the result of another action, often unforeseen or unintended.

by-product

noun

1. a secondary or incidental product of a manufacturing process
2. a side effect

by-product

/ bī′prŏd′əkt /

1. Something produced in the process of making something else. When plants produce carbohydrates by photosynthesis, oxygen is released as a by-product. Asphalt and paraffin are by-products of the process of refining crude oil into gasoline.

Word History and Origins

Origin of by-product¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

But if there is a reshuffle of the Middle Eastern political cards, a bargain over Sudan might be a by-product, even an opportunity for Trump to bask in the glow of an unexpected peacemaker.

From BBC

London's improvement from 24th to 14th was not enough to salvage their top-flight presence in 2025 and their uncertainty given David Hughes' decision to step aside is an unfortunate by-product of this new licencing-style system.

From BBC

Since it was born as a by-product of miso made from soybeans, the original ingredient was only soybeans.

From Salon

The green variety is produced with renewable energy, grey comes from splitting methane into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, while blue is made in the same way, but the CO2 by-product is captured and stored.

From BBC

Unconscious goblin guards covered the room’s floor in heaps, a by-product of the wolf’s entrance, most likely.

From Literature

Related Words

• outgrowth