dairy

noun

ˈder-ē 

plural dairies

often attributive

1

: a room, building, or establishment where milk is kept and butter or cheese is made

2

a

: the department of farming or of a farm that is concerned with the production of milk, butter, and cheese

b

: a farm devoted to such production

3

: an establishment for the sale or distribution chiefly of milk and milk products

4

: milk from a cow or other domestic animal (such as a goat)

also : food (such as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt) made primarily of or from milk

dairy adjective

dairy products

Examples of dairy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike dairy breeds, multiple births in Angus cattle are quite rare, but this year, we’ve been surprised by not one but two sets of twins. —Susan Koch, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

This week, the USDA announced retailers accepting SNAP benefits must meet stricter requirements by offering seven varities within four staple food categories - proteins, grains, dairy and fruits and vegetables. —Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 May 2026

Even in Sudan's urban areas, vegetables and dairy have risen by about 40% due to fuel price spikes. —ABC News, 7 May 2026

For example, Malaysian dairy brand Farm Fresh told the Straits Times that a shortage of PET resin—often used in the production of beverage bottles, food containers and packaging—was the reason why consumers could not find its cartons of milk on supermarket shelves. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deierie, dayerye, borrowed from Anglo-French deyerie, daerie, from Middle English deie, daie "woman in charge of milking and making butter and cheese" (going back to Old English dǣge "female baker, female servant," going back to Germanic *daigjōn—whence also Old Norse deigja "female servant"— derivative of *daiga- dough) + Anglo-French -erie -ery (after botelerie "wine cellar," paneterie "bread shop, pantry")

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dairy

• dairy cattle

Rhymes for dairy

• aerie
• airy
• arie
• barre
• cherry
• clary
• eyrie
• faerie
• faery
• fairy
• ferry
• hairy

Kids Definition

dairy

noun

ˈde(ə)r-ē 

da(ə)r-

plural dairies

1

: a place where milk is kept and butter or cheese is made

2

: a farm devoted to the production of milk

3

: a company that sells milk and milk products

4

: milk from a cow or other domestic animal (as a goat)

also : food (as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt) made primarily of or from milk