cutoff

1 of 2

noun

cut·​off ˈkət-ˌȯf How to pronounce cutoff (audio)
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
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cutoffs plural : shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher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 offJohn 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

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
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.
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 See all Example Sentences for cutoff 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutoff was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near cutoff

Cite this Entry

“Cutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutoff. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

cutoff

1 of 2 noun
cut·​off ˈkət-ˌȯf How to pronounce cutoff (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!