butternut

noun

but·​ter·​nut ˈbə-tər-ˌnət 

plural butternuts

1

: an eastern North American tree (Juglans cinerea) of the walnut family with sweet egg-shaped nuts and light brown wood

called also white walnut

2

a

: a light yellowish brown

b

butternuts plural : homespun overalls dyed brown with a butternut extract

c

: a soldier or partisan of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War

Examples of butternut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The breakfast menu features classics alongside local specialities, including St Lucia green fig and salt fish or the innovative Jade Mountain Volcanic Signature Egg: a 60-minute egg served in a glass with creamy spinach, butternut foam, truffle and crispy pancetta. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025

Grown in the summer months, this hardy vegetable, including acorn, butternut, delicata, kabocha, and more varieties, can be a staple ingredient for many dishes, from curries, risottos, soups, sides, and pies. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025

Winter squash varieties like acorn, butternut, and delicata are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 21 Nov. 2025

Fungal disease, butternut canker, wiped out about 90% of the state's butternut trees. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing butternut

• butternut squash

Rhymes for butternut

• cocoanut
• coconut
• hazelnut
• undercut
• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut

Kids Definition

butternut

noun

but·​ter·​nut -ˌnət 

: the edible oily nut of a North American tree related to the walnut

also : this tree