cord-cutting

noun

cord-cut·​ting ˈkȯrd-ˌkə-tiŋ How to pronounce cord-cutting (audio)
variants or less commonly cord cutting
: the act or process of canceling a subscription to cable television or to a landline telephone service
As cable news begins to feel the squeeze from cord-cutting, arch-rivals Fox News and CNN are stepping up efforts to adapt to the trend that poses a long-term threat to their businesses.Stephen Battaglio
Although broadband rates don't appear to be rising substantially as a whole, there's a chance that cord cutting could someday lead providers to increase monthly Internet bills to mitigate the loss of cable customers, according to a MoffettNathanson report.Makeda Easter
The majority of Americans … now rely solely on wireless telephones. That watershed cord-cutting moment was reached in the last half of 2016, according to the federal government.Jan Cottingham

Examples of cord-cutting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The cords in [Result of some cord-cutting, informally] are umbilical cords, and the result is an INNIE belly button. Deb Amlen, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Offering those options has not been easy in the traditional era of distribution deals, but the rates of cord-cutting have made both programmers and operators more willing to question the usual assumptions. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025 After years of subscribing to a regional sports network on a cable provider, the financial impact of cord-cutting on RSN’s has forced teams to look at new methods to distribute games locally. Brad Adgate, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 With cord-cutting and an evolving landscape, the state of regional sports networks across North America is a mess The Orioles have settled with the Nationals over MASN’s broadcast rights, but what comes next will be key for the team's future. Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cord-cutting

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cord-cutting was in 1999

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Cite this Entry

“Cord-cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cord-cutting. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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