cheddar

American  

[ched-er] / ˈtʃɛd ər /

noun

1. Also called cheddar cheese.  Often Cheddar a hard, smooth-textured cheese, made usually from the whole milk of cows and varying in color from white to deep yellow and in flavor from mild to sharp as it ages.

2. Slang. money.

   The monthly grand prize is $200, and the yearly grand prize is $1,000—that's a lot of cheddar.

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Cheddar British  

/ ˈtʃɛdə /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) any of several types of smooth hard yellow or whitish cheese

2. a village in SW England, in N Somerset: situated near Cheddar Gorge , a pass through the Mendip Hills renowned for its stalactitic caverns and rare limestone flora. Pop: 4796 (2001)

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Other Word Forms

• cheddary adjective

Etymology

Origin of cheddar

First recorded in 1655–65; named after Cheddar, village in Somersetshire, England, where the cheese was first made

Explanation

Cheddar is a common type of hard cheese. You might use cheddar to make your favorite grilled cheese sandwich. Cheddar ranges in flavor from very mild and smooth to a tangy, sharp taste, and it's color can be anything between a creamy white and a deep orange. This type of cheese was originally made in an English town called Cheddar — and it remains the most popular cheese in England, while it's second only to mozzarella in the US.

Example Sentences

In March, it rolled out Big Arch—a limited-time, large-format burger that features two quarter-pound beef patties, white cheddar cheese, crispy onions, pickles, and a tangy new sauce on a toasted sesame-poppy seed bun.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

The agency has not issued a formal recall, though it has sent out a warning letter telling customers to avoid Raw Farm products purchased on or after Jan. 4, particularly raw milk cheddar cheese.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

They questioned what school she went to and laughed when she brought a bag of grated cheddar to a party, to contribute to the cheeseboard.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

On the hunt for “one other thing,” an ounce of store-brand Vermont sharp white cheddar brings the whole meal in at $2.96.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

After that I grated the sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks