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

Based on the ingredients list, the Cajun ranch sauce is flavored with that tangy Southern favorite, buttermilk. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024

And for lemonheads who like things extra tart, substituting buttermilk for whole milk bumps up the tanginess in the best possible way. —Melissa Kirsch Andrew Lavallee Melissa Clark, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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