cream cheese

American  

noun

1. a soft, white, smooth-textured, unripened, spreadable cheese made of sweet milk and sometimes cream.

2. Gulf States. cottage cheese.

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cream cheese British  

noun

1. a smooth soft white cheese made from soured cream or milk

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Regionalisms

See cottage cheese.

Etymology

Origin of cream cheese

First recorded in 1575–85

Compare meaning

How does cream-cheese compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mascarpone vs. cream cheese
• cottage cheese vs. cream cheese

Example Sentences

You could absolutely use feta, goat cheese, mozzarella or cream cheese depending on what’s in your fridge, but there’s something uniquely satisfying about the melt of American cheese here.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

It was gooey, soft and slathered in a classic tangy cream cheese frosting.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

The Order: The sesame bagel is lovely on its own—or spackled with a schmear of pastrami lox cream cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Massi Gharibian was there looking for cream cheese and ways to save money.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

I said the next morning, smearing some cream cheese on my bagel.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio