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

Visit this Pineville staple for double chocolate cake, buttermilk with sprinkles, raised cinnamon crumb donuts and more. —Charlottefive Staff, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2025

The Circuit Board is a must: country ham, handmade buttermilk biscuits, hatch pepper cheese, pickles, ranch pretzels, seasonal fruit butter and barrel-aged maple butter pair perfectly with a strong libation. —Michelle Stark, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025

The pancakes are buttermilk flavored, but infused with Dubai Chocolate flavors, including pistachio, hazelnut and kataifi (a shredded phyllo dough). —Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 30 July 2025

Research shows that both butter and buttermilk contain high amounts of Lactobacilli and Lactococci, and can maintain their probiotic levels even after prolonged storage periods.11 8. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 23 July 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