bread-and-but·ter
ˈbred-ən(d)-ˈbə-tər 
1
a
: being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood
bread-and-butter issues
b(1)
: reliable
our bread-and-butter repertoire
(2)
: dependable as a source of income
a company's bread-and-butter products
2
: sent or given as thanks for hospitality
a bread-and-butter letter
: a means of sustenance or livelihood
Examples of bread-and-butter in a Sentence
Noun
Casual clothing has always been the company's bread and butter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
In its bread-and-butter Engine Products segment, for example, Howmet holds over 60% market share and has increased this share each of the last five years, according to management.
—Stockstory Team, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Both BioWare and Rocksteady are going back to their old bread and butter of single player games now.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bread-and-butter 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The Last of Us Online took years of Naughty Dog development before it was cancelled, no doubt delaying bread-and-butter single player projects like the new Intergalactic and the likely Last of Us Part 3.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
In its bread-and-butter Engine Products segment, for example, Howmet holds over 60% market share and has increased this share each of the last five years, according to management.
—Stockstory Team, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
The key to that was elite special teams, namely a top power play that has proven to be the team’s bread and butter during their recent stretch of contention.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Both BioWare and Rocksteady are going back to their old bread and butter of single player games now.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bread-and-butter
Dictionary Entries Near bread-and-butter
Cite this Entry
“Bread-and-butter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bread-and-butter. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share