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

It's topped with mozzarella and American cheese; the mixture is placed atop a bed of cheddar cheese tater tots formed into a taco shell and finished with buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce and more tots. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk and vanilla. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, stir together self-rising flour, buttermilk, and butter in a medium bowl until batter is just combined. — Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026

Here, all the salad's flavors—garlic, bright lemon, and a tangy buttermilk finish—come together to create a perfectly craveable bite. — Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 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