The Collaborative Dictionary

Whereby \Where*by"\, adv. [1913 Webster]

By which; -- used relatively. "You take my life when you take the means whereby I life." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

By what; how; -- used interrogatively. [1913 Webster] Whereby shall I know this? --Luke i.

[1913 Webster]

Word Net

whereby adv

1 as a result of which

2 by or through which; "the means whereby we achieved our goal"

English

Etymology

From where + by.

Pronunciation

• , /wɛəˈbaɪ/, /we@r"baI/
• Rhymes: -aɪ

Adverb

1. In the context of "interrogative|obsolete": By what?, in which direction?; how?
2. By which.
   • 1990, Local management of schools, Kogan Page Ltd:

     Other heads saw devolution as a whole new way of life and adopted an approach whereby the power of devolution was used to enable the school to drive the curriculum.

3. Where.
   • 1992, The hotel receptionist, Paige, Jane and Paige, Grace, Cassell Educational:

     This is an electronic system whereby executives are issued with small bleepers.

Usage notes

Use of whereby as a formal equivalent of where is nonstandard and is avoided by careful speakers and writers, who use where or in which instead. The term typically fails readability and comprehension review so it is generally avoided in published works. The term is also avoided by speakers as it makes it difficult to understand the message that's trying to be communicated.

See also

• thereafter, thereat, thereby, therein, thereof, thereon, thereto, thereunder, thereupon
• hereafter, hereby, herein, hereof, hereon, hereto, hereunder, hereupon
• whereafter, wherein, whereof, whereon, whereto, whereunder, whereupon