whereby

[ wair-bahy, hwair- ]

conjunction

1. by what or by which; under the terms of which.
2. Obsolete. by what? how?

whereby

/ wɛəˈbaɪ /

pronoun

1. by or because of which

   the means whereby he took his life

adverb

1. archaic.
   how? by what means?

   whereby does he recognize me?

Word History and Origins

Origin of whereby¹

First recorded in 1150–1200, whereby is from the Middle English word wherby. See where, by

Example Sentences

The review examined "exception" appointments, whereby the normal civil service recruitment rules are bypassed.

From BBC

You’re seeing the cleaving off of the liberal part of liberal democracy, whereby if I win an election with the most votes, then all those other things, like checks and balances, the rule of law, the protection of individual rights—they don’t matter because I’ve been given a mandate to do away with all those other things.

From Slate

The first Trump administration preferred direct deal-making, whereby autocrats cut a private bargain over the counter.

From BBC

"It should be a procedure whereby when the project is granted permission, these consents are automatic," he said.

From BBC

New MPs have stressed their frustration with some historical traditions in the past, such as “bobbing,” whereby they must briefly and repeatedly rise in their seats in order to catch the Commons speaker’s eye to be called to speak.

From BBC