buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbə-tər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk

Examples of buttermilk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With baking basics like brown sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, and, of course, buttermilk, this cake turns out moist, tender, and just the right amount of tangy. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2025

Here's how to make homemade pancakes using our buttermilk pancake recipe. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2025

Things take a turn when cream and buttermilk appear. —Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2025

In the new year, The Lord Mayor’s Lounge will offer a brand-new afternoon tea menu, the hotel’s 201st year, featuring feta and tomato on pumpkin seed bread, golden raisin buttermilk scones, citrus macaroons, and so much more. —Meredith Lepore, Robb Report, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for buttermilk

• ilk
• silk
• whilk
• wilk

Kids Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after the butterfat has been churned from milk or cream

2

: milk from which all or part of the cream has been removed and which has been soured by adding certain bacteria

Medical Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk