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 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

Case in point: a single slice of American cheese in her stovetop mac keeps the sauce perfectly smooth, and suddenly, mastery feels delightfully achievable.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2025

And yes, I mean that American cheese: the creamy, melty, ultra-processed stuff you grew up with and now pretend to be above.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2025

There’s a lesson here, I think: don’t try to push American cheese into a place where you really want gouda or Muenster or Gruyère.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2025

According to the McDonald’s handout, the cheeseburger contains only six ingredients: a 100 percent beef patty, a bun, two American cheese slices, ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions, and “grill seasoning,” whatever that is.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan