ENGLISH
REFERENCE

whereby

conj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //hwɛɹˈbaɪ// UK //wˈeəbaɪ// where·by Academic Archaic Dialect

conj. by which or through which. You use this to explain the system or method that makes something happen.

conj. by which, or through the agency of which. Used to introduce a relative clause describing a system, agreement, or process that enables a specific result.


SIMPLE

They signed a deal whereby both companies share the profits.

CONTEXTUAL

The school introduced a new policy whereby students can earn extra credit for community service projects.

COMPLEX

The treaty established a formal mechanism whereby territorial disputes could be resolved through international arbitration rather than military intervention.

Origin

From where + by.

Usage

Typically used in formal or academic writing to connect a process to its outcome; functions similarly to 'by which'.

Pitfall

the process whereby that we usethe process whereby we useWhereby acts as a relative connector; adding 'that' after it is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

© 2026 English Reference