spin-off

American  

[spin-awf, -of] / ˈspɪnˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or spinoff

noun

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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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

She said she was surprised to see high recognition of Sports Illustrated with the Gen Z crowd, and credits SI for Kids, the spin-off publication for younger readers launched in 1989.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Coty has also announced a strategic review of portions of its consumer business, signaling a possible spin-off or sale.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Pixarians, frustrated that their streaming releases didn’t resonate more, grew panicked after the flop of their first film back in theaters, 2022’s “Toy Story” spin-off “Lightyear.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

A shrine for a much-loved character from Doctor Who spin-off show Torchwood is set to be taken down after more than a decade.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Lately, they've all been some weird spin-off about Frida.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds