butterfat

noun

but·​ter·​fat ˈbə-tər-ˌfat 

: the natural fat of milk and chief constituent of butter consisting essentially of a mixture of glycerides (such as those derived from butyric, capric, caproic, and caprylic acids)

Examples of butterfat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kerrygold from Ireland has a butterfat content of 82% to 83%, and Plugra, which is made in the U.S., is 82% butterfat. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

The ice cream is premium at 14 to 16 percent butterfat. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025

Typical American butter — brands such as Land O’Lakes, Cabot, Challenge and supermarket private labels — contains 80% butterfat. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

The higher the butterfat the more premium an ice cream is considered to be and 16 is considered to be super high. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for butterfat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat
• guzerat

Kids Definition

butterfat

noun

but·​ter·​fat -ˌfat 

: the natural fat of milk from which butter is made

Medical Definition

butterfat

noun

but·​ter·​fat -ˌfat 

: the natural fat of milk and chief constituent of butter consisting essentially of a mixture of glycerides (as butyrin, olein, and palmitin)