cord-cutting
noun
cord-cut·ting
ˈkȯrd-ˌkə-tiŋ 
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
Stephen BattaglioAlthough 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
Makeda EasterThe 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
Jan CottinghamExamples of cord-cutting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Cord-cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cord-cutting. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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