spinoff

spinoffsingular
spinoffsplural

1.nounC1

Definition

something new that is created or gained because a larger product, project, or process already exists.

Example

The phone app began as a spinoff from Rodrigo's banking website redesign.

a spinoff from + larger project

Gita's school podcast became a spinoff of the history club newsletter.

a spinoff of + earlier product

Common collocations

an unexpected spinoff
a commercial spinoff
a spinoff benefit

Synonyms

offshoot
close in meaning, often used for groups, ideas, or companies that grow out of a parent.
by-product
stronger when the new result was not the main goal.
side effect
usually focuses on an additional result rather than a new product.

Antonyms

main product
the central thing a project or process was meant to produce.

Grammar Patterns

a spinoff from [product/project]

a spinoff of [process/programme]

a spinoff benefit

Usage Note

Often followed by of or from plus the larger product, project, or process. It can name either a concrete new product or a useful extra result.

Common Mistakes

The new cafe is a spinoff of the chain's branch downtown.

The new cafe is a branch of the chain downtown.

'spinoff' suggests a new offshoot with its own identity, not just another branch.

2.nounB2

Definition

a new television, film, podcast, or online series built from characters, stories, or the world of an earlier one.

Example

The comedy's spinoff follows the chef who first appeared in season two.

media spinoff built from an earlier series

Iris skipped the spinoff because the original courtroom drama felt dull.

Common collocations

a TV spinoff
a successful spinoff
the latest spinoff series

Synonyms

companion series
emphasizes that it sits alongside the original rather than replacing it.
franchise extension
more commercial and broader, often covering games, books, or merchandise too.
sequel
continues the main story more directly, while a spinoff usually shifts focus.

Antonyms

original series
the earlier show that the spinoff grows out of.

Grammar Patterns

a spinoff of [series/show]

watch a spinoff

a TV spinoff

Usage Note

Used especially for TV, film, podcast, and online series that keep a clear link to an earlier work. Distinguish from sense 1, which is broader and can describe any extra result or product.

Common Mistakes

The actor is a spinoff from the old series.

The actor stars in a spinoff from the old series.

the spinoff is the new show, not the person.

spinoffpresent simple I / you / we / they
spinoffs3rd person singular
spinoffing-ing form
spinoffedpast simple

1.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to turn part of a larger business, show, or project into a separate product, brand, or series of its own.

Example

The studio will spin off a podcast from its travel channel next spring.

spin off + new product from parent brand

Gita's team spun off a kids' series after the cooking show became popular.

Common collocations

spin off a series
spin off a brand
spin off a podcast

Synonyms

carve out
often used when a business unit is made separate for strategic reasons.
hive off
common in British business English for separating part of a company.

Antonyms

keep in-house
means not turning the unit into a separate product or business.

Grammar Patterns

spin off + product from + parent brand

spin off + character into + new series

Usage Note

The object is the new product, series, or brand being created. Common in business and media writing, often with from or into to show the parent source or the new identity.

Common Mistakes

The company spin off a new app last year.

The company spun off a new app last year.

the past tense is 'spun off', not 'spin off'.

2.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to separate from a parent company or organization and start operating as an independent unit.

Example

The payment unit spun off from the bank and listed on its own.

spin off from + parent company

After years inside the charity, the legal team spun off as a separate group.

spin off as + separate group

Common collocations

spin off from the parent company
spin off as an independent firm

Synonyms

break away
broader and can describe people or groups leaving, not only companies.
hive off
business-focused and especially common in British English.

Antonyms

merge back
describes returning to a parent body instead of operating alone.

Grammar Patterns

spin off from + parent company

spin off as + separate group

Usage Note

The subject is the unit that becomes independent. Often followed by from plus the parent body or as plus the new role; the focus is on the new unit breaking away.

Common Mistakes

The division spined off from the bank in April.

The division spun off from the bank in April.

use the irregular past form 'spun off'.

Word family

spin
verbA2
spin
nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Spinoff, offshoot, by-product, subsidiary, and franchise all describe something that comes from an earlier source, but they fit different situations. A spinoff is common for business units, new media series, and extra benefits that grow out of a larger project. Offshoot sounds broader and more organic, especially for groups, ideas, or movements. By-product is strongest when the new thing was not the main goal. Subsidiary is a legal business term for a company owned by another. Franchise names a larger commercial story world or brand, not just one new result. A new TV drama can be a spinoff, but not a subsidiary. Extra training opportunities can be a by-product, but not a franchise.

spinoff ↗offshoot ↗by-product ↗subsidiary ↗franchise ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

spinoff company
spinoff series
spinoff benefit

Verbs

launch a spinoff
watch a spinoff

Phrases

a corporate spinoff
the latest spinoff series
a spinoff from the parent brand

Adjectives

successful spinoff
unexpected spinoff

Prepositions

spinoff from
spinoff of

Etymology

English

Spinoff is a closed-up spelling of spin-off, which was built from the verb phrase spin off. The noun first described material or results that came out of a larger process, then widened to companies, media series, and other products that separate from a parent source while still staying connected to it.

First known use

1950

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb

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spinoff

spinoff — noun

1. something new that is created or gained because a larger product, project, or pr

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a new television, film, podcast, or online series built from characters, stories

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

spinoff — verb

1. to turn part of a larger business, show, or project into a separate product, bra

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to separate from a parent company or organization and start operating as an inde

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Verbs

Phrases

Adjectives

Prepositions

Etymology

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