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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

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

Ball has had a long career at the BBC, with roles presenting the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows, as well as Strictly's own spin-off It Takes Two.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

It was the second series of the South Africa-set spin-off, in which past contestants return.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

The spin-off is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with shareholders retaining shares in both businesses.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

This innovation has since been developed into a range of oral care products by the spin-off company PerioTrap.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

But the heady excitement of turning one tune into two at no extra cost had another spin-off: organum where one voice stood still instead.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall