# hive off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hive-off
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to separate a part of a business

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

to separate a small part of a company or group to make it independent or to sell it.

For teachers: to segregate a department, subsidiary, or asset from a parent entity, typically to form a new company or facilitate a divestment.

- The company decided to hive off its research department into a separate business.
- The board of directors eventually voted to hive off the loss-making retail division to protect the parent company's overall share price.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; it is often followed by the preposition 'into'.

Teaching tip: This term is most common in British business contexts. In American English, 'spin off' is the more frequent equivalent for creating a new company.

## Examples

- The company plans to hive off its software division.
- The government decided to hive off the postal service into a private company to reduce public spending.
- By hiving off its non-core assets, the conglomerate aimed to streamline operations and regain the confidence of its primary shareholders.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: the term comes from beekeeping, where a new colony is separated from a crowded hive; this image helps students understand the concept of 'splitting off' a smaller part.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.