buttermilk

American  

[buht-er-milk] / ˈbʌt ərˌmɪlk /

noun

buttermilks plural

1. the more or less acidulous liquid remaining after butter has been separated from milk or cream.

2. a similar liquid made from whole or skim milk with the addition of a bacterial culture.

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buttermilk British  

/ ˈbʌtəˌmɪlk /

noun

1. the sourish liquid remaining after the butter has been separated from milk, often used for making scones and soda bread

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• buttermilks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of buttermilk

First recorded in 1520–30; butter + milk

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buttermilk buttermilks

The technique here is simple: Roast the berries until their juices thicken, chill them completely, then blend with yogurt and buttermilk until smooth.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Unlike bleach and wipes, a product made of buttermilk and mayo is not exactly designed for mass consumption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

The buttermilk powder gives them that signature tang, but you can also skip the individual seasonings and use a packet of ranch seasoning instead.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

The unnamed condiment originally mixed herbs and spices with buttermilk and mayonnaise and its popularity with guests led to it being jarred so they could take some home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

There was cool buttermilk yet, thanks to Violet, and I poured some in a tin cup.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

At home, he and his girlfriend would walk to the Sleepy Bee Cafe for the plain buttermilks on match days.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2023

"Why, ef you've got a jar full, thar must be mighty nigh a dozen buttermilks in it."

From The Bishop and the Boogerman by Harris, Joel Chandler

Artificial buttermilks therefore prove a valuable source of food supply for persons who find them palatable and who do not care for sweet milk.

From Woman's Institute Library of Cookery Volume 2: Milk, Butter and Cheese; Eggs; Vegetables by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

The preparation of the pure culture buttermilks or artificially soured milks that are now so frequently recommended for digestive troubles rests upon an acid fermentation of this type.

From Outlines of dairy bacteriology A concise manual for the use of students in dairying by Hastings, Edwin George

"Well, your mind must be wanderin'," he said, "bekaze we ast you as plain as tongue kin speak for to put us up a couple of buttermilks."

From The Bishop and the Boogerman by Harris, Joel Chandler

Related Words

• cream
• half-and-half