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

With just a few pantry staples, buttermilk cake is moist, tender, slightly tangy, and warm with notes of molasses and caramel from dark brown sugar. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026

On the menu are classics like Joanna Gaines’s buttermilk biscuit recipe, cinnamon rolls, and potato leek strata. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026

The menu features warm, hearty favorites like buttermilk sea salt biscuits, crab mozzarella sticks, and rotisserie piri piri chicken. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026

Traditional buttermilk refers to the liquid remaining after butter is churned and contains live probiotic cultures. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 23 Feb. 2026

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