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• spin-off
  spin-off

  noun

  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.
• spin off
  spin off

  verb

  (tr, preposition) to turn (a part of a business enterprise) into a separate company

spin-off

American  

[spin-awf, -of] / ˈspɪnˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or spinoff

noun

spin-offs plural

1. 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.

2. 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

3. a secondary or incidental product or effect derived from technological development in a somewhat unrelated area.

   Synonyms:

   offshoot, issue, by-product

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spin off British  

verb

1. (tr, preposition) to turn (a part of a business enterprise) into a separate company

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noun

1. any product or development derived incidentally from the application of existing knowledge or enterprise

2. a book, film, or television series derived from a similar successful book, film, or television series

spin off Idioms  

1. Derive or produce from something else, especially a small part from a larger whole. For example, The corporation decided to spin off the automobile parts division, or Her column was spun off from her book on this subject. The expression transfers the throwing off by centrifugal force, as in spinning, to other enterprises. [Mid-1900s]

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spin-offs
  plural

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:

• spin-off vs. split-off

Example Sentences

DreamWorks Animation will receive a $19.2 million tax credit for its “Shrek” spin-off, “Donkey,” which is set for release in 2028, and was awarded a financial offset of $7.8 million for a yet-untitled feature.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 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

But some of the storied studio's more recent titles, like the alien adventure Elio and Toy Story spin-off Lightyear, have bombed at the box office.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

“This is it. It’s happening. You’re going to reach out, right? This is amazing. Hollywood will make a movie about you two. And a Netflix spin-off about your gay children.”

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera