soybean

especially British, soy·a bean

[soi-been]

noun

1. a bushy Old World plant, Glycine max, of the legume family, cultivated globally, with greatest productivity in the United States, where it is grown chiefly for forage and soil improvement.

2. the seed of this plant, used for food, as a livestock feed, and for a variety of other commercial uses.

Word History and Origins

Origin of soybean¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; soy + bean

Example Sentences

China has halted its purchases of U.S. soybeans, leaving American farmers without access to one of their most important export markets.

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As U.S. farmers harvest a bumper soybean crop, Chinese buyers have disappeared; a bailout is expected.

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Both the U.S. and Argentina export soybeans and compete in the global market.

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The Argentine rescue may not be popular with some Americans: Both the U.S. and Argentina export soybeans and compete with each other on the global market.

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"Why would USA help bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers' biggest market???"

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