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

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

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Bagels only come whole, accompanied by personal tubs of cream cheese or butter, available in a constantly changing roster of flavors, for dipping of bite-sized chunks.

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

It was a marvel of its genre: cream cheese, sharp cheddar, a splash of Worcestershire, a spoonful of sugar, crushed pineapple, pecans.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2025

I had leftover kimchi and a cold bagel with cream cheese, which is what Mom gives me when she forgets to make my lunch the day before.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff