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byproduct

secondary product / incidental result / side effect
Noun
pl: byproducts

This term describes something that emerges alongside a primary goal, often as an unintended or secondary consequence. In industrial contexts, it refers to physical materials generated during chemical synthesis that are not the main target of the process. In social or psychological contexts, it describes an incidental outcome of a decision or event. It carries a neutral to positive connotation, though it can be negative if the byproduct is a pollutant or an unwanted side effect.

Meanings

Noun

An incidental or secondary product made in the manufacture or synthesis of something else.

"The production of gasoline creates a byproduct of sulfur."

Noun

An unplanned or secondary result, effect, or consequence of a particular process or action.

"The increase in local tourism was a byproduct of the new highway construction."

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Last Updated: June 13, 2026Report an Error