clear-cut

1 of 3

adjective

ˈklir-ˈkət 

1

: sharply outlined : distinct

2

: free from ambiguity or uncertainty : unambiguous

a clear-cut decision

clear-cut

2 of 3

noun

ˈklir-ˌkət 

: an area of forest in which all the trees have been cut down

But the logging has been concentrated in the high-volume old-growth forest, and clear-cuts are spread over almost every one of the region's watersheds.

—Catherine Caufield

also : clear-cutting

clear-cut

3 of 3

verb

ˈklir-ˌkət 

clear-cut; clear-cutting

transitive verb

: to cut down all the trees in (an area of forest)

He says there has been a massive deforestation as the Chinese have clear-cut millions of acres of Tibetan Forests to sell lumber on the export market …

—Daniel Goleman

… native rain forest experts who harvest plants for traditional healers, make from two to 10 times per hectare the income of a farmer who clear-cuts the forest for planting crops.

—Cathy Sears and Robert Neuwirth

Synonyms

Adjective

• apparent
• bald
• bald-faced
• barefaced
• bright-line
• broad
• clear
• crystal clear
• decided
• distinct
• evident
• lucid
• luculent
• luminous
• manifest
• nonambiguous
• obvious
• open-and-shut
• palpable
• patent
• pellucid
• perspicuous
• plain
• ringing
• straightforward
• transparent
• unambiguous
• unambivalent
• unequivocal
• unmistakable

Examples of clear-cut in a Sentence

Adjective

a clear-cut case of plagiarism that resulted in her immediate dismissal

clear-cut instructions that even an idiot should be able to follow

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The current situation is not quite so clear-cut as the 1981 Iranian move, which was a clear boost for Reagan and a final humiliation for Carter. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025

The governor’s office said, as opposed to the federal regulation that threatened Cleveland Cliff’s steel mill in Butler County, a solution to U.S. Steel economic woes isn’t as clear-cut. —Christen Smith | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Jan. 2025

Things are more clear-cut with documents and attachments: just say no. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

As for the reward of drafting first in 2025, that’s not as clear-cut as the last few years. —Scott Powers, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1958, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

clear-cut

adjective

ˈkli(ə)r-ˈkət

: free from doubt or uncertainty : definite

a clear-cut victory