-
spin-off
spin-offnouna process of reorganizing a corporate structure whereby the capital stock of a division or subsidiary of a corporation or of a newly affiliated company is transferred to the stockholders of the parent corporation without an exchange of any part of the stock of the latter.
-
spin off
spin offverb(tr, preposition) to turn (a part of a business enterprise) into a separate company
spin-off
Americannoun
-
Commerce. a process of reorganizing a corporate structure whereby the capital stock of a division or subsidiary of a corporation or of a newly affiliated company is transferred to the stockholders of the parent corporation without an exchange of any part of the stock of the latter.
-
any product that is an adaption, outgrowth, or development of another similar product.
The paperback is a spin-off from the large hardcover encyclopedia.
- Synonyms:
- offshoot, issue, by-product
-
a secondary or incidental product or effect derived from technological development in a somewhat unrelated area.
- Synonyms:
- offshoot, issue, by-product
verb
noun
-
any product or development derived incidentally from the application of existing knowledge or enterprise
-
a book, film, or television series derived from a similar successful book, film, or television series
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spin-off
First recorded in 1945–50; noun use of verb phrase spin off
Compare meaning
How does spin-off compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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:
Xbox gaming division, including Montreal-based Compulsion Games and San Francisco-based Double Fine, are in spin-off talks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The project is considered a representative spin-off case in which defense research has been adapted for civilian use.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026
Comcast said it expects the tax-free spin-off in approximately one year and that it will hold up to 19.9% of NBCUniversal at the outset.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
The company expects earnings per share of $2.40 to $2.60, excluding spin-off costs, for the seven-month period.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Lately, they've all been some weird spin-off about Frida.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
![]()
The deal which excludes ITV Studios, the group's production arm, comes after Comcast last week said it would spin off its Sky media and NBCUniversal divisions into a separate company.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
As if a historic Supreme Court case decision and a record-setting day weren’t enough to start the week, Comcast announced plans to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky from its mobile and broadband business this morning.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
The news report also said that Volkswagen plans to spin off its core VW brand into different entities.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
“That’s My Bush!” ran for eight episodes in the spring of 2001, with plans to spin off into a feature called “George W. Bush and the Secret of the Glass Tiger.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
One fission can quickly become hundreds as neutrons spin off from each split and hit more nuclei.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
![]()
Like Neville, Lineker's network has developed spin-offs, but the Goalhanger brand extends well beyond sport.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
Stretching out a successful series typically leads to spin-offs — and yes, Mills says, those conversations are happening with “Mormon Wives” — at least at the time of the interview.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
The upcoming slate is ambitious: a Mandalorian feature film, a new season of Ahsoka, a Darth Maul-centered animated series and several additional series and spin-offs are scheduled for release across Disney+ and theaters.
From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2026
Since its inception, “Call of Duty” has spawned dozens of sequels and spin-offs across various consoles and platforms, most recently “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7,” released in November.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025
By 1980, the Lisp Machine project had generated two commercial spin-offs.
From Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software by Williams, Sam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.