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cutoffs plural : shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher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

Noun

• cessation
• ending
• halt
• end
• close
• closure
• conclusion
• shutoff
• shutdown

Verb

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• quit
• cut out
• shut off
• lay off

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

If there’s still a line when polls close, a poll worker will stand at the end of the line to mark the cutoff, according to the California Secretary of State website. —Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026

The logician Harvey Friedman once asked Esenin-Volpin to pinpoint a cutoff for what makes a number too large. —Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026

Verb

In the document made public Wednesday, Silverman alleged Burke cut off those digits to remove evidence of a tattoo Hernandez had gotten of the singer’s name. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026

Trump is hoping to deprive the regime of a key source of funds by cutting off its ability to export oil. —Garrett Haake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cutoff

• cutoff man

Rhymes for cutoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff
• runoff

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