soybean

noun

soy·bean ˈsȯi-ˌbēn

variants or chiefly British soya bean

ˈsȯi-ə-

: a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) widely grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement

also : its seed

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.

And that's because federal crop insurance programs are designed to insure single crops with one growing season, like corn, soybean and wheat, said Duncan Orlander, a policy specialist with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 Plants including corn, soybeans, wheat and tomatoes form intimate and mutually beneficial relationships with these soil-dwelling microbes. — Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 The reduction in duties could open the door for China to ramp up purchases of American soybeans, by pushing their cost below that of Brazilian supplies. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 2 July 2026 Epyrifenacil will be allowed for use on canola, field corn, soybeans and wheat; diflufenican for use on corn and soybeans; and trifludimoxazin for use on various crops including citrus, corn, peanuts and soybeans. — Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 1 July 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Soybean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soybean. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

soybean

noun

soy·bean ˈsȯi-ˈbēn

-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

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

soybean

noun

Illustration of soybean

Examples of soybean in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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soybean

noun

Illustration of soybean

Examples of soybean in a Sentence

Word History

Phrases Containing soybean

Rhymes for soybean

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on soybean

More from Merriam-Webster

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fulcrum

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