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Synonyms

outgrowth

American  
[out-grohth] / ˈaʊtˌgroʊθ /

noun

  1. a natural development, product, or result.

    to consider truancy an outgrowth of parental neglect.

  2. an additional, supplementary result.

  3. a growing out or forth.

  4. something that grows out; offshoot; excrescence.


outgrowth British  
/ ˈaʊtˌɡrəʊθ /

noun

  1. a thing growing out of a main body

  2. a development, result, or consequence

  3. the act of growing out

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of outgrowth

First recorded in 1830–40; out- + growth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The injured tissue produced substantial neurite outgrowth, meaning the long extensions that allow neurons to communicate began growing again.

From Science Daily Feb. 16, 2026

Reiner resigned in 2006 as chairman of California’s First 5 commission, an outgrowth of Proposition 10, after Times reporting raised questions about the use of tax dollars to promote Proposition 82.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 15, 2025

These buyouts are absurd, an outgrowth of a crazed marketplace and undeniably screwy optics at a state university.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 4, 2025

They also clarify the damage wrought by our collective amnesia and our refusal to learn from history – an outgrowth of our propensity to view our place in history from an exceptionalist perspective.

From Salon Apr. 30, 2025

She smeared mud and tree sap to camouflage her face and arms till she seemed an outgrowth of the island.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

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