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Definition of cutoff

cutoff

/ˈkʌtˌɔːf/
cut · off

Plural:cutoffs
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cutoff Lexical Profile

cutoff Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A fixed point, level, or deadline at which an activity, eligibility, or process stops.

Example

"The university set a strict grade point average cutoff for admission into the honors program."


2

An act or instance of stopping or discontinuing a supply, service, or flow, or a device that stops such a flow.

Example

"The safety valve acts as an automatic cutoff if the boiler pressure gets too high."


3

Shorts made by cutting the legs off a pair of trousers or jeans, typically leaving the hems unsewn and frayed (usually used in the plural).

Example

"She wore denim cutoffs and sandals to the beach."


4

North American A shorter, alternative road, passage, or new channel cut by a river across the neck of a bend or meander.

Example

"Taking the mountain cutoff saved the travelers nearly an hour on their journey."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adjective

1

Designating a fixed limit, point, or deadline beyond which something is no longer valid, applicable, or permitted.

Example

"Students must submit their scholarship forms before the official cutoff date in March."


2

Having had the lower part or ends shortened by cutting, especially of casual garments.

Example

"He wore a cutoff T-shirt and sneakers while working in the garden."

Synonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

The single word "cutoff" (or hyphenated "cut-off") functions as a noun or adjective (e.g., "the cutoff date"), whereas the two-word form "cut off" is the phrasal verb (e.g., "they will cut off the power").

• Rhymes for cutoff

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cutoff. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cutoff
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