soy

American  

[soi] / sɔɪ /

especially British, soya

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.

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adjective

1. made or derived from soybeans or soymilk.

   soy flour.

Etymology

Origin of soy

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”

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Explanation

Soy refers to both a plant and the protein-rich food made from its beans. You can drink soy milk, eat tofu, or use soy sauce to add flavor to your meals Soy refers to a high-protein vegetable that can be transformed into a variety of foods and products. From tofu, oil, and soy milk in the kitchen to biodiesel and plastics in industry, soybeans are incredibly adaptable. This makes soy not only a dietary staple for many but also a critical ingredient in numerous industrial applications. Its ability to serve both culinary and commercial purposes highlights its global economic importance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

soy

Researchers in Japan have identified a promising possibility in LPC70, a compound derived from soy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

While subsidized rice and beans were still widely available, ground beef was replaced with soy protein.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Sunflower oil prices fell on expectations of ample supplies from the Black Sea region, while soy and rapeseed oil prices were broadly stable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

I whisked the eggs and cream with garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, plus a little drizzle of soy sauce.

From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026

It might be, “We still don’t have soy sauce. You didn’t have time to get soy sauce?”

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

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