# buttermilk

/ˈbətɝˌmɪɫk/ (US) · /bˈʌtəmˌɪlk/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buttermilk
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a thick, slightly sour liquid that is used to make bread and cakes. It is made by adding an acid to milk or by letting milk sit until it sours.

For teachers: a liquid dairy product with a thick, slightly acidic consistency, used as a leavening agent in baking. It is produced either by the addition of lactic acid or by the natural souring of milk.

## Examples

- I use buttermilk to make my pancakes extra fluffy.
- The recipe calls for buttermilk instead of regular milk to give the cake a tangy flavor and a better rise.
- While traditional buttermilk was the liquid left after churning cream into butter, modern versions are often acidified to replicate the same texture and chemical properties for commercial baking.

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