feta

noun

fe·​ta ˈfe-tə 

ˈfe-ˌtä

variants often Feta

: a white moderately hard and crumbly Greek cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and cured in brine

Examples of feta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s served with Ayib, a cheese similar to feta that provides a cool complement to balance the dish’s spicy flavor. —Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026

The insides of the dish, which included chicken, spinach, feta, saffron orzo and herbs, were tasty enough, and the top of the filo wrap was crispy. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026

Feta cheese is a star ingredient for greek salads. —Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2026

For a sampler of the most popular cold mezze dishes, Pera Mezze offers the chef mix mezze plate ($24), which comes with the eatery’s hummus, baba ganoush, two dolmades, a Cretan feta spread and muhammara. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Modern Greek (tyri) pheta, from tyri cheese + pheta slice, from Italian fetta — more at fettuccine

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

feta

noun

fe·​ta ˈfet-ə 

ˈfe-ˌtä

: a white Greek cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and cured in salt water

Etymology

from modern Greek pheta "slice (of cheese)"