soybean

[ soi-been ]

noun

1. a bushy Old World plant, Glycine max, of the legume family, cultivated globally, with greatest productivity in the United States, where it is grown chiefly for forage and soil improvement.
2. the seed of this plant, used for food, as a livestock feed, and for a variety of other commercial uses.

Word History and Origins

Origin of soybean¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; soy + bean

Example Sentences

For the last seven years, Kammerer has been working with koji mold, or Aspergillus oryzae, which is widely used in Japanese cuisine to ferment soybeans and make things like soy sauce and miso.

From Salon

Under these conditions, the U.S. would lose between 2.9 and 4.6 million metric tons of combined soybean and corn exports annually, while Brazil’s exports could swell by nearly 9 million metric tons each year.

From Salon

Not in terms of where the soybeans grow, but rather in how fermentation in Virginia differs from other regions.

From Salon

A soybean farmer tells me that Kamala Harris is a "DEI hire"; another says it is white people who are being discriminated against in today’s America.

From BBC

Farmers, particularly in the Midwest, where over 80% of soybeans are grown, suffered significant financial losses.

From Salon