whereby

American  

[wair-bahy, hwair-] / wɛərˈbaɪ, ʰwɛər- /

conjunction

1. by what or by which; under the terms of which.

2. Obsolete. by what? how?

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whereby British  

/ wɛəˈbaɪ /

pronoun

1. by or because of which

   the means whereby he took his life

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adverb

1. archaic how? by what means?

   whereby does he recognize me?

Etymology

Origin of whereby

First recorded in 1150–1200, whereby is from the Middle English word wherby. See where, by

Example Sentences

In a separate initiative, the legislation established a pilot program whereby the federal government pays $1,000 into an account for babies born in the years 2025 through 2028.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026

To comply with independence rules, Eide Bailly said it would set up an alternative practice structure whereby its nonaudit business will receive the Reverence investment and the audit business will remain a licensed CPA firm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

It structured a sale in 2021 as a buyback, whereby L’Oréal purchased and then canceled shares, meaning Nestlé didn’t have to pay capital-gains tax on the transaction.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Or does it suggest a trend whereby its financial power is now too much for European clubs outside the elite?

From BBC • May 28, 2026

But it was also the start of a process whereby, in classical music, the old soon far outweighed the new.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall