bread-and-butter

1 of 2

adjective

bread-and-but·​ter ˈbred-ən(d)-ˈbə-tər 

1

a

: being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood

bread-and-butter issues

b(1)

: reliable

our bread-and-butter repertoire

(2)

: dependable as a source of income

a company's bread-and-butter products

2

: sent or given as thanks for hospitality

a bread-and-butter letter

bread and butter

2 of 2

noun

: a means of sustenance or livelihood

Examples of bread-and-butter in a Sentence

Noun

Casual clothing has always been the company's bread and butter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Why Salt Cucumbers Before Pickling Salting and draining the cucumbers are key parts of the bread-and-butter pickle-making process. —Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026

The company that once played the sporty game to invent the jumbo jet couldn’t seem to make new versions of its bread-and-butter mid-range aircraft. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026

Noun

The recent apparel collections, centered around Americana and the preppy look, seem to be accruing fans, expanding the brand’s appeal beyond the boat shoe and the penny loafer, although footwear remains Sebago’s bread and butter. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 16 June 2026

Jaskiewicz’s bread and butter is still putting the ball in the net. —Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1770, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bread-and-butter

• kilometre
• butter
• clutter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• putter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter

Kids Definition

bread-and-butter

adjective

ˌbred-ᵊn-ˈbət-ər

1

a

: concerned with or being as basic as earning a living

bread-and-butter economic issues

b

: dependable

bread-and-butter products that always sell

2

: sent or given as thanks for hospitality

a bread-and-butter note