buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbə-tər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk

Examples of buttermilk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Add buttermilk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 July 2025

Don't miss the Cheese Puffs, a fun orange snack covered with local country ham cheddar dust and a side of herb buttermilk sauce. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

Put simply, the powder is just dehydrated buttermilk. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2025

Gently stir buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture just until combined, about 1 minute. —Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for buttermilk

• ilk
• silk
• whilk
• wilk

Kids Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after the butterfat has been churned from milk or cream

2

: milk from which all or part of the cream has been removed and which has been soured by adding certain bacteria

Medical Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk