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

Holding industry accountable on behalf of individual and environmental health is a bread-and-butter Democratic issue. — Brinda Adhikari, STAT, 5 Nov. 2026

That doesn't detract from the quality of Cardinal's results, especially within its bread-and-butter Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

Lambasting an opponent’s record in office is the bread and butter of political attack ads, but candidates used to have to put their criticisms into the mouths of actors playing salt-of-the-earth voters—a plumber, say, or a factory worker. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Tables adorned with lush greenery and floral arrangements were set with marinated olives, Marcona almonds, and bread and butter. — Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 29 Oct. 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