butyrate

noun

bu·​ty·​rate ˈbyü-tə-ˌrāt 

: a salt or ester of butyric acid

Examples of butyrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And butter contains butyrate, which has been studied for potential benefits to gut health. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Diets rich in diverse plant fiber promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and elevate production of short-chain fatty acids — molecules like butyrate that maintain gut barrier integrity, dampen systemic inflammation and support metabolic health. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

These help signal satiety to the brain while producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, which support gut barrier function, immune regulation and metabolic health. — Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026

Because resistant starch isn’t digested by our enzymes, gut microbes break it down instead, producing compounds like butyrate that support health. — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

butyrate

noun

bu·​ty·​rate ˈbyüt-ə-ˌrāt 

: a salt or ester of butyric acid