buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌ(h)wēt 

1

: any of a genus (Fagopyrum of the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheat family) of Eurasian herbs with alternate leaves, clusters of apetalous pinkish-white flowers, and triangular seeds

especially : either of two plants (F. esculentum and F. tartaricum) cultivated for their edible seeds

2

: the seed of a buckwheat used as a cereal grain

Examples of buckwheat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The single-serving packets contain oats packed with fiber and protein, plus add-ins like chia seeds and hulled buckwheat for a hearty, chewy texture. —Hana Asbrink, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025

This certainly includes oats but can also be made of quinoa, freekeh, rice, barley, farro, buckwheat or any number of other grains. —Tammy Algood, The Tennessean, 10 Feb. 2025

Beattie and pastry chef Natalie Quach charmed customers with inventive, superbly executed baked goods such as buckwheat coffee cake and chocolate chip cookies made with Oak Park Brewing grains, as well as a small menu of salads and sandwiches. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025

Hillsides choked with sumac, sage and buckwheat a week earlier now had the look of the inside of a very ancient barbecue. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dutch boekweit, from Middle Dutch boecweit, from boec- (akin to Old High German buohha beech tree) + weit wheat — more at beech

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for buckwheat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete
• crabmeat

Kids Definition

buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌhwēt 

-ˌwēt

: either of two plants with white or greenish flowers that are grown for their dark triangular seeds which are used as a cereal grain

also : the seeds of a buckwheat