soy

especially British, soy·a

[soi]

noun

1. the soybean plant or its seeds.

   Soy is a major crop in Brazil.

2. a product or products made from soybeans.

   I'm vegetarian, so my main source of protein is soy.

3. soy sauce.

   Add about 2 tablespoons soy to the noodles.

4. soymilk.

   We use soy in our coffee instead of milk.

adjective

1. made or derived from soybeans or soymilk.

   soy flour.

Word History and Origins

Origin of soy¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; perhaps via Dutch or New Latin soya, soja, from Japanese shōyu, earlier siau-yu, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese jìngyóu “soybean oil”

Example Sentences

Although soy sauce containers are made of a recyclable plastic - polyethylene - their small size means they struggle to be processed by machines properly.

From BBC

“This can come from milk, yogurt, or cheese. It can also come from lactose-free milk and fortified soy milk or yogurt.”

From Salon

The containers were found to be mistakenly filled with Friendly’s Cookies and Cream ice cream, which means there is an undisclosed wheat and soy allergen.

From Salon

According to TJ’s, the wontons pair well with the brand’s Sweet Chili Sauce, but you can also serve them with hot sauce, soy sauce, or fruit jam for a hint of sweetness.

From Salon

A poor chef is sweating the test so badly, he won’t need soy sauce soon enough.

From Los Angeles Times