spin-off

Or spin·off

[spin-awf, -of]

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

spin off

verb

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spin off¹

First recorded in 1945–50; noun use of verb phrase spin off

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

While dubbed "Battlefield 6", the new EA game is in fact the 10th in the series, which also includes several spin-off titles.

Read more on Barron's

The only economic sectors with job growth this year have been healthcare, government and education; these are not high-wage sectors that foster spin-offs and more employment.

Read more on MarketWatch

Some fans were nervous about the celebrity spin-off, but the bottom line is: it works.

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In an exclusive interview, Wolf discussed what he thinks would be the perfect “Law & Order” episode, the prospect of another Los Angeles-based spin-off, and whether Benson and Stabler will ever get together.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The movie is a spin-off of TV’s “The Mandalorian” and picks up after the events in the Disney+ series’ third season, which aired in 2023.

Read more on Los Angeles Times