buckwheat

1 of 2

noun (1)

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌ(h)wēt How to pronounce buckwheat (audio)
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

buckwheat coal

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly buckwheat
: anthracite coal in any one of five small sizes

Examples of buckwheat in a Sentence

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Noun
Menu descriptions arrive as terse little trios—tuna, foie gras and shiso; cuttlefish, buckwheat and celtuce; turbot, lettuce and sake—but the cooking behind them is anything but abbreviated. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Farro, buckwheat and oats also add protein to bowls, breakfasts and side dishes. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026 In a small study, healthy participants who consumed wheat bread made with 50% buckwheat had significantly lower post-meal blood sugar levels than those who consumed regular wheat bread. — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 2 July 2026 Gluten-free sourdough bread is made with gluten-free flours such as those made with millet, sorghum, teff, quinoa, and buckwheat. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for buckwheat

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buckwheat was in 1548

Rhymes for buckwheat

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Browse Nearby Words

buckwash
buckwheat
buckwheat cake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buckwheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buckwheat. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

buckwheat

noun
buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌhwēt How to pronounce buckwheat (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on buckwheat

Nglish: Translation of buckwheat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about buckwheat

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