cutout

1 of 3

noun

cut·​out ˈkət-ˌau̇t 

1

: something cut out or off from something else

also : the space or hole left after cutting

2

: one that cuts out

3

: an intermediary in a clandestine operation

4

: a record album no longer in production that is sold at a discount

cutout adjective

cut out

2 of 3

verb

cut out; cutting out; cuts out

transitive verb

1

: to form by erosion

2

: to determine or assign through necessity

you've got your work cut out for you

3

: to take the place of : supplant

4

: to put an end to : desist from

cut out wasteful spending

5

: deprive, defraud

cut him out of his share

6

a

: to remove from a series or circuit : disconnect

cut out a car from a train

b

: to make inoperative

intransitive verb

1

: to depart in haste

2

: to cease operating

3

: to swerve out of a traffic line

cut out

3 of 3

adjective

: naturally fitted or suited

not cut out to be a vet

Synonyms

Verb

• break
• break down
• conk (out)
• crash
• die
• fail
• give out
• stall

Examples of cutout in a Sentence

Noun

a cardboard cutout of a famous actor

Verb

the engine abruptly cut out

now cut that out, or I'm turning this car around!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Brown, 21, shared a three-photo slideshow on Instagram on Feb. 28 — her own look embellished with her signature social media cutout decals, another angle of the entire ensemble and finally Paltrow, then 26, wearing the shimmery dress. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025

The little black dress featured exposed hips with cutouts on the dress. —Julia Teti, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025

Verb

More news: Cowboys Predicted to Target Free Agent Pro Bowl Running Back Jerry Jones will have his work cut out for him, along with dealing with first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

Prosecutors said Jordan, who was Mizell’s godson, and Washington killed the 37-year-old hip-hop icon because they were cut out of a cocaine deal. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1645, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cutout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• devout
• dropout
• dugout

Kids Definition

cutout

1 of 3 noun

cut·​out ˈkət-ˌau̇t 

: something cut out or off from something else

cutout adjective

cut out

2 of 3 verb

1

: to assign through necessity

you've got your work cut out for you

2

: to put an end to

now cut that out

3

: to come to a stop

the engines cut out

cut out

3 of 3 adjective

: naturally suited

not cut out for teaching