What does cheddar mean?
Cheddar is a firm, smooth-textured cow's-milk cheese ranging in colour from pale yellow to deep orange, named after the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, where it has been made since at least the twelfth century. It is produced by a process called 'cheddaring', in which curds are stacked, turned, and pressed to expel moisture, giving the cheese its characteristic dense, crumbly-yet-smooth body. Flavours range from mild and creamy in young cheeses to sharp, nutty, and tangy in well-aged varieties. Cheddar is among the most popular cheeses in Britain, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, appearing everywhere from sandwiches and burgers to sauces and cheese boards. In informal American slang, 'cheddar' also means money. Its ubiquity, long history, and remarkable versatility have made 'cheddar' one of the most recognisable cheese names in the world.
A firm, smooth-textured cheese, typically pale yellow to orange, originally made in Cheddar, Somerset, England.
"Would you like some cheddar with your crackers?"
Both countable and uncountable: 'a block of cheddar' but also 'bread and cheddar'.
Informal American English for money or cash.
"Once the deal closed, the cheddar started flowing."
Informal register; avoid in formal writing.
Used when referring to different types, wheels, or blocks of cheddar cheese rather than the substance generally.
"The cheese shop stocked cheddars from Somerset, Vermont, and Ontario."
Real 'Cheddar cheese' is now made all over the world — yet the village of Cheddar in Somerset, where it originated, has a population of barely five thousand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cheddar
The word 'cheddar' comes from the name of the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills of Somerset, south-west England, where the cheese has been produced since at least medieval times. The place name itself is of Old English origin, likely deriving from 'Ceodor', a term associated with a gorge or rocky ravine — a reference to nearby Cheddar Gorge. The cheese was so closely identified with the village that its name became generic for cheeses of this type made anywhere. By the nineteenth century, cheddar-making had spread across Britain, and emigrants carried the technique to North America and Australasia, where it became a dominant style of cheese.
How cheddar is actually used
In everyday use, 'cheddar' almost always means the cheese, and it is used both countably ('two blocks of cheddar') and uncountably ('a plate of bread and cheddar'). The slang sense meaning money is informal American English and is best avoided in formal writing. When referring specifically to the cheese made in or around the original village, producers may label it 'West Country Farmhouse Cheddar', which carries protected designation of origin status in the EU/UK.
Easily confused with cheddar
The word 'cheddar' as a cheese derives its name from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, but the noun refers specifically to the cheese, not the village itself.
Correct spelling is 'cheddar' with a double 'd'; common misspellings include 'cheedar' and 'chedder'.