offshoot

noun

ˈȯf-ˌshüt How to pronounce offshoot (audio)
Definition of offshootnext
1
as in limb
a branch of a main stem especially of a plant we knew the rosebush had survived the harsh winter when it began producing offshoots and turning green again

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in derivative
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else opened a shop selling fancy foods as an offshoot of their very successful restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offshoot Trustees already managed separate health systems through a not-for-profit that was primed to take ownership of its athletics offshoot. — James Pollard, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 In many ways, these doodads seem like an offshoot of the ongoing craze for NeeDoh squish toys, which likewise offer the comforts of the stress ball and vital early lessons in consumerism. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 And now EatFuti has flowered into the first-in-the-nation (to our understanding) State Fair food delivery service — a brand offshoot based, again, in solving a problem, this one much more personal. — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 14 Aug. 2026 Paradise Lost, the Wonder Woman offshoot, is also still in development but not at HBO at this time. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for offshoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offshoot
  1. limb
  2. derivative
  3. outgrowth
  4. derivation
  5. sprout
  6. derivate
  7. shoot
  8. growth
Noun
  • The axolotl, which comes from the shrinking wetlands of Mexico City, is known for its rare ability to regrow limbs and other body parts.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Here the picture gets both less clear and, like the gods’ and goddesses’ limbs and faces, more manifold.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb
Noun
  • That's the view of Citadel Securities head of equity and equity derivatives strategy Scott Rubner, who wrote to clients on Monday that the bullish setup that carried the S&P to records in August is changing.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, has been shown to be effective in supporting various kidney issues including kidney cancer and diabetic kidney disease; however, more research is required.
    — Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of derivative
Noun
  • The region’s attitudes toward hospitality are a natural outgrowth of these broader social graces.
    — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But the current gym craze is an outgrowth of her and her parents’ generations.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of outgrowth
Noun
  • Many forms of divination have been practiced historically in Africa, but divination techniques found in Hoodoo have sometimes been of European derivation; for instance, Hoodoo frequently employs cartomancy, or divination using playing cards.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And woven into every page and at each chapter heading are gorgeous language derivations.
    — The Know, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
Definition of derivation
Noun
  • And now several dozen people across 15 states have become ill after eating alfalfa sprouts in a new outbreak that involves salmonella and E coli.
    — Dylan Scott, Vox, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In a medium bowl, combine the garlic, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprout
Noun
  • While Apple shares were up more than 4% in trading Friday, all of the derivate plays were trading in the red.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 1 May 2026
  • With unique enough lore and a unique style, Saxon avoids making a derivate fable.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Definition of derivate
Noun
  • The La Palma Suite, where the street-level bougainvillaea ties up in a bow, might have the prettiest terrace in all Capri town with a wrap-around balcony fit for a Slim Aaron’s shoot with Jackie Kennedy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Shoot days for digital productions rose 47% in the second quarter to 661 compared to the same period a year — even as the overall number of on-location shoot days dropped 13% during that period.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of shoot
Noun
  • His core economic platform focuses on reshaping Britain's growth model through regional devolution, skills system reforms, and regional re-industrialization.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That approach has led him to bet on sectors from defense to life sciences, and trends like the growth of India’s middle class.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of growth

Browse Nearby Words

offsetting
offshoot
offshoots
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Cite this Entry

“Offshoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offshoot. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on offshoot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about offshoot

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