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cutoffs plural : shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher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 list tied a Midas record with 13 women investors. Investors who submitted for the Midas List Europe, our December ranking for venture capitalists based in Europe, Israel and the Middle East, are encouraged to resubmit as qualifying cutoffs for each list can vary. —Alex Konrad, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

The region has now been forced to close almost all industrial companies, with the exception of food producers, following Wednesday’s cutoff of Russian gas supplies. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025

Verb

The proposal would cut off Brooklyn’s sole eastern access road and sever the town from its historic cemetery, which is now clear of weeds and brush largely thanks to a restoration project with the Illinois archaeologists. —Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2025

Then there are cautionary tales like the one in which a boy gets his fingers cut off for being a picky eater—stories about cause and effect, separation from loved ones, stealing, and death. —Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025

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