buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌ(h)wēt 

1

: any of a genus (Fagopyrum of the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheat family) of Eurasian herbs with alternate leaves, clusters of apetalous pinkish-white flowers, and triangular seeds

especially : either of two plants (F. esculentum and F. tartaricum) cultivated for their edible seeds

2

: the seed of a buckwheat used as a cereal grain

Examples of buckwheat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Highlights include a pink-flowering chaparral mallow, rarely seen in gardens, a white sage valued by Native Americans and the buckwheat Sterman found in San Miguel Island, plus several new oaks. —Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026

Fiber-rich foods, like buckwheat, can also help prevent constipation. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 12 June 2026

Use buckwheat flour and top the pancakes with blueberries, blackberries and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026

For the pillow particular, there’s a menu that includes buckwheat, down, foam, maternity—even a NASA pillow developed for astronauts suffering from neck or back pain. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Dutch boekweit, from Middle Dutch boecweit, from boec- (akin to Old High German buohha beech tree) + weit wheat — more at beech

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for buckwheat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete
• crabmeat

Kids Definition

buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌhwēt 

-ˌwēt

: either of two plants with white or greenish flowers that are grown for their dark triangular seeds which are used as a cereal grain

also : the seeds of a buckwheat