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

There are extra-healthy twists on standard breakfast fare, such as buckwheat or chickpea pancakes and mung bean porridge, as well as savory dishes like hummus toast with sunflower seed cheese, radish salad, and pomegranate. —Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025

Keep your eyes peeled for ferruginous hawks overhead and rare Great Plains wild buckwheat underfoot. —Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025

The food on offer includes housemade bread, pasta like paccheri with wild boar and buckwheat chitarra, and swordfish and bistecca alla Fiorentina from the grill. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025

While quinoa and buckwheat aren’t technically grains, they often get grouped together and provide fiber profiles similar to those of fruits and vegetables, offering soluble and insoluble fiber. —Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 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