whey

noun

ˈ(h)wā How to pronounce whey (audio)
: the watery part of milk that is separated from the coagulable part or curd especially in the process of making cheese and that is rich in lactose, minerals, and vitamins and contains lactalbumin and traces of fat
wheylike
ˈ(h)wā-ˌlīk How to pronounce whey (audio)
adjective

Examples of whey in a Sentence

The curd has separated from the whey.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
An agreement paramount to Idaho dairy Idaho’s dairy industry may see the biggest impacts from the Canadian tariffs, which will target milk, cream and whey at 50%, and cheese at 25%. — Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026 The recall was initiated after it was discovered by an analyst at TJX (the parent company of the retail stores) that the Chocolatey Eyeballs containing whey (milk) were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 2 Sep. 2026 Many manufacturers use whey protein as a preservative in breads and baked goods. — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 29 Aug. 2026 Expect dairy, whey, or a long list of emulsifiers, and artificial sweeteners. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whey

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hwæg; akin to Middle Dutch wey whey

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whey was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing whey

Rhymes for whey

See All Rhymes for whey

Browse Nearby Words

whewl
whey
wheyey
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whey. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

whey

noun
ˈhwā How to pronounce whey (audio)
ˈwā
: the watery part of milk that separates after the milk has soured and thickened especially in the process of making cheese compare curd sense 1

Medical Definition

whey

noun
ˈhwā How to pronounce whey (audio) ˈwā How to pronounce whey (audio)
: the serum or watery part of milk that is separated from the coagulable part or curd especially in the process of making cheese and that is rich in lactose, minerals, and vitamins and contains lactalbumin and traces of fat

More from Merriam-Webster on whey

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whey

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All