soybean

noun

soy·​bean ˈsȯi-ˌbēn How to pronounce soybean (audio)
variants or chiefly British soya bean
: a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) widely grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement
also : its seed

Illustration of soybean

Illustration of soybean

Examples of soybean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That was the year that China all but cut off the soybean spigot in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on some $350 billion of Chinese imports, at a time when a majority of U.S. exports went there. Ken Roberts, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The changes in temperature and precipitation can also add to stress on Indiana’s key agricultural products like corn, soybeans and wheat, leading to a reduction in crop yields. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 Tofu, made of soybeans, is a complete protein and endlessly versatile. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024 Farmers growing cotton and soybean, both broad-leaf crops, couldn't use the product directly at first. The Arizona Republic, 10 Feb. 2024 There are also no soybean plantations in the state. The Arizona Republic, 10 Feb. 2024 More heat and changing rainfall patterns are predicted to harm crop yields throughout the U.S. in the coming decade: corn yields in Iowa, soybean yields in Minnesota and wheat yields in Kansas will all be 5 percent lower than without the effects of climate change. Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024 That was particularly true in agriculture: Farmers who exported soybeans, cotton and sorghum to China were hit by Beijing’s decision to raise tariffs on those products to as much as 25 percent. Ana Swanson, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024 The vessels are used to transport commodities like iron ore and soybeans. Michael Forsythe, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soybean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soybean was in 1795

Dictionary Entries Near soybean

Cite this Entry

“Soybean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soybean. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

soybean

noun
soy·​bean ˈsȯi-ˈbēn How to pronounce soybean (audio)
-ˌbēn
: a hairy annual Asian plant of the legume family widely grown for its edible seeds rich in oil and proteins, as food for livestock, and for soil improvement
also : its seed

Medical Definition

soybean

noun
soy·​bean ˈsȯi-ˌbēn How to pronounce soybean (audio)
variants also soya bean
: a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement
also : its seed

More from Merriam-Webster on soybean

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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