American cheese

American  

noun

1. a type of processed cheddar-style cheese made in the U.S.

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American cheese British  

noun

1. a type of smooth hard white or yellow cheese similar to a mild Cheddar

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Etymology

Origin of American cheese

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Example Sentences

The lentils simmer in stock — or broth, or water and bouillon — until soft and stewy, and then comes the ingredient that makes the entire recipe sing white American cheese.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

Seeds are visible among the chopped roasted chiles, smoky and vegetal and bringing some heat, overlaid with a single square of American cheese melted into place.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

American cheese exports rose 20% last year to a record 613,000 metric tons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

The crunch of the iceberg lettuce and the familiar taste of sliced American cheese reminded me of the Old El Paso brand taco kits my mom used to serve in the ’80s—about 7,000 miles away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 25, 2025

Julia, who was pretending I hadn’t just walked in, seemed to be in the middle of a long speech about how American cheese wasn’t even real cheese, strictly speaking.

From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead