offshoot

American  

[awf-shoot, of-] / ˈɔfˌʃut, ˈɒf- /

noun

1. a branch or lateral shoot from a main stem, as of a plant.

2. anything conceived of as springing or proceeding from a main stock.

   an offshoot of a discussion.

3. a branch, descendant, or scion of a specific population or family.

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offshoot British  

/ ˈɒfˌʃuːt /

noun

1. a shoot or branch growing from the main stem of a plant

2. something that develops or derives from a principal source or origin

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Etymology

Origin of offshoot

First recorded in 1665–75; off + shoot ¹

Example Sentences

The regulations require wide, flat roads with only short dead-end offshoots to ensure easy evacuation for residents and easy access for fire crews in fire-prone areas.

From Los Angeles Times

Many consultants were calling for a breakup of the company into more agile offshoots.

From The Wall Street Journal

The sect is an offshoot of Shia Islam whose members make up one of the country's biggest religious minorities.

From BBC

Maiduguri has been central to an insurgency by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province.

From BBC

A senior Pakistani intelligence official said on Friday the country had captured a leader from an offshoot of IS, after the arrest was reported by a United Nations sanctions monitoring group.

From Barron's

Related Words

• outgrowth
• spin-off