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

Gas costs are a bread-and-butter issue for many families. —Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026

Spicy bread-and-butter pickle chips add just the right amount of kick. —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026

Noun

While Standard Oil’s bread and butter was the sale of kerosene, which replaced whale oil for lighting homes and businesses, its descendants prospered through the sale of gasoline for the ever-growing use of cars and trucks. —Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

The bread and butter of his six-pitch arsenal remains the fastball and splitter. —Katie Woo, New York Times, 15 Apr. 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