cutoff

1 of 2

noun

cut·​off ˈkət-ˌȯf 

1

: the act or action of cutting off

2

a

: the new and relatively short channel formed when a stream cuts through the neck of an oxbow

b

: shortcut sense 1

c

: a channel made to straighten a stream

3

: a device for cutting off

4

a

: something cut off

b

cutoffs plural : shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher

5

: the point, date, or period for a cutoff

cutoff adjective

cut off

2 of 2

verb

cut off; cutting off; cuts off

transitive verb

1

: to bring to an untimely end

Each one of those names reflects a life that was prematurely cut off …

—John Kerry

2

: to stop the passage of

cut off communications

3

: shut off, bar

the river cut off their retreat

4

: discontinue, terminate

cut off a subscription

5

: separate, isolate

cut herself off from her family

6

a

: disinherit

threatened to cut him off without a penny

b

: to refuse to serve (someone) more alcohol

The bartender cut them off.

7

a

: to stop the operation of : turn off

cut off the engine

b

: to stop or interrupt while in communication

the operator cut me off

intransitive verb

: to cease operating

Synonyms

Noun

• arrest
• arrestment
• cease
• cessation
• check
• close
• closedown
• closure
• conclusion
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• end
• ending
• expiration
• finish
• halt
• lapse
• offset
• shutdown
• shutoff
• stay
• stop
• stoppage
• surcease
• termination

Verb

• break
• break off
• break up
• can [slang]
• cease
• cut out
• desist (from)
• discontinue
• drop
• end
• give over
• halt
• knock off
• lay off
• leave off
• pack (up or in)
• quit
• shut off
• stop

Examples of cutoff in a Sentence

Noun

a cutoff of the water supply

The cutoff for new applications is next Wednesday.

Verb

the majority party cut off debate and forced a vote on the bill

the dog cut off the one sheep that had to be sheared

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The rest of the year, from the second Sunday in March through the first Saturday in November, the cutoff time goes back an hour to 6:59 p.m. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2024

The families who missed the cutoff were left in limbo. —Claire Fahy, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

That December, van Gogh famously cut off his left ear, and Gauguin returned to Paris. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024

The new support comes amid deep concerns in Ukraine that the incoming Trump administration might cut off military aid to the country. —John Ismay, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cutoff

• cutoff man

Kids Definition

cutoff

1 of 2 noun

cut·​off ˈkət-ˌȯf 

1

a

: the action of cutting off

b

: the point or date that cutting off occurs

2

: a device for cutting off

3

plural : shorts made from jeans with the legs cut off short

cutoff adjective

cut off

2 of 2 verb

ˌkət-ˈȯf

1

: to stop the flow or movement of

cut off a supply

2

: isolate

cut off from the world

3

: discontinue sense 2

they cut off relations with us

4

: to stop from talking