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
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.
In the Midwest, where row crops like corn and soybeans are concentrated, the conversation centers on scale and exposure. Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025 In earlier research, investigators found that a low-fat vegan diet supplemented with soybeans reduced hot flashes and body weight. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 June 2025 Even after a 2020 trade agreement partially restored soybean exports, the damage had been done. Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025 Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease Isoflavones are plant compounds found in soybeans and other plants. Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for soybean

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soybean was in 1795

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soybean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soybean. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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

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