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”

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

Pour in a dash of soy sauce or fish sauce.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

His first venture, before moving stateside, was trying to create a soy milk company back in his home country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

And that allows you to listen to a variety of genres from Argentina, from people doing different things, and at the same time raising the flag and saying: “Yo soy argentino.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

Each typically contains little plastic sachets of mustard and soy sauce.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

She brought out her old wooden board and cleaver, then chopped the ginger and scallions, and poured soy sauce and sesame oil into a shallow dish.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan