buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌ(h)wēt 

1

: any of a genus (Fagopyrum of the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheat family) of Eurasian herbs with alternate leaves, clusters of apetalous pinkish-white flowers, and triangular seeds

especially : either of two plants (F. esculentum and F. tartaricum) cultivated for their edible seeds

2

: the seed of a buckwheat used as a cereal grain

Examples of buckwheat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Original Ol’ South Pancakes are your more traditional fluffy style served buttermilk, homestyle, buckwheat, or corn. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025

Anchor the board with a wheel of mascarpone cheese or brie drizzled with a robust autumn honey like buckwheat or wildflower. —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

There are extra-healthy twists on standard breakfast fare, such as buckwheat or chickpea pancakes and mung bean porridge, as well as savory dishes like hummus toast with sunflower seed cheese, radish salad, and pomegranate. —Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025

Keep your eyes peeled for ferruginous hawks overhead and rare Great Plains wild buckwheat underfoot. —Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dutch boekweit, from Middle Dutch boecweit, from boec- (akin to Old High German buohha beech tree) + weit wheat — more at beech

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for buckwheat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete
• crabmeat

Kids Definition

buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌhwēt 

-ˌwēt

: either of two plants with white or greenish flowers that are grown for their dark triangular seeds which are used as a cereal grain

also : the seeds of a buckwheat