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

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

American cheese shines as the creamy base for homemade macaroni and cheese or game-day queso, dotted with spicy beef or chorizo.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2025

Greenspan’s proprietary recipe dials up the flavor while preserving what people actually love about American cheese: the saltiness, the creaminess, the melt.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2025

I put together four thick sandwiches with cold cuts, American cheese, and lots of mustard and mayonnaise.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings