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

The other sweet addition features buttermilk biscuit dough that’s fried, dusted with sugar and served with caramel sauce for dipping. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026

Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and stir just until combined (do not overmix). — Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 2026

Stop at downtown Guerneville for a heavenly buttermilk biscuit at Piknik Town Market. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

Kombucha, milk kefir, water kefir, buttermilk, and probiotic juices can support digestive health. — Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 19 Sep. 2026

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