1
: something (such as a part of a sleeve or glove) encircling the wrist
2
: the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
3
a
: handcuff
—usually used in plural
b
: a usually wide metal band worn as a bracelet
4
: an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Noun (2)
Examples of cuff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Avitt, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Thanks to the ribbed cuffs, the socks won’t slide down in your kid’s boot.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 28 Mar. 2024
Robbie accessorized the Versace dress with a silver and gold cuff.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 11 Mar. 2024
What was up with Princess Charlotte’s hand, which seemed distorted by the cuff of her sleeve?
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
This option from Abercrombie, which comes in sizes 23 to 37 and extra-short to long lengths, enhances the Curve Love High-Rise ’90s silhouette that shoppers already know and love with a pair of thick cuffs.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Made of waterproof nylon, the rain jacket features a hood and two elastic wrist cuffs to help keep out any moisture.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024
Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff In the 1970s, the talented jewelry designer Elsa Peretti crafted the viral bone cuff.
—Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
Her version of luxury womenswear looks playful with 3D fuzzy tops, a silver floor-length puff dress, and collared shirts with exaggerated arm cuffs.
—Essence, 22 Feb. 2024
Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Johnson appeared in a New York courtroom Tuesday wearing a tan sweatsuit with the shirt inside-out and his hands cuffed behind his back.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Designed with a deep V-neck, pleated front, and cuffed sleeves that can be rolled up or down, this versatile blouse can be worn casually with jeans or dressed up with a pair of trousers.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
Arrested in Miami Rocha, who was cuffed and wearing a khaki detention uniform, is the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
The Oscar winner opted for a three-piece suit, wearing a plunging gray vest, sans shirt, which showed off her décolleté; cuffed cigarette pants; and a blazer.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
The body camera footage then shows Gilliam being led to a patrol car, hands cuffed behind her back.
—Colleen Slevin The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024
After capturing the man, officers cuffed his hands behind his back and shackled his legs, the indictment said.
—Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2024
This essay is a pitch-perfect example of letting the details speak for themselves:
Palestinian men and boys between the ages of 12 and 70 are stripped, cuffed, blindfolded and then loaded onto the backs of trucks to be taken for interrogation.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 8 Feb. 2024
Noun
Its adjustable hood, waist, and arm cuffs prevent water getting through.
—Olivia Avitt, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Thanks to the ribbed cuffs, the socks won’t slide down in your kid’s boot.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 28 Mar. 2024
Robbie accessorized the Versace dress with a silver and gold cuff.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 11 Mar. 2024
What was up with Princess Charlotte’s hand, which seemed distorted by the cuff of her sleeve?
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
This option from Abercrombie, which comes in sizes 23 to 37 and extra-short to long lengths, enhances the Curve Love High-Rise ’90s silhouette that shoppers already know and love with a pair of thick cuffs.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Made of waterproof nylon, the rain jacket features a hood and two elastic wrist cuffs to help keep out any moisture.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024
Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff In the 1970s, the talented jewelry designer Elsa Peretti crafted the viral bone cuff.
—Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
Her version of luxury womenswear looks playful with 3D fuzzy tops, a silver floor-length puff dress, and collared shirts with exaggerated arm cuffs.
—Essence, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Rih also had on a pair of gold circle studs and diamond ear cuff with her blonde hair swept in an up-do which assisted with pulling off her effortless look.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Johnson appeared in a New York courtroom Tuesday wearing a tan sweatsuit with the shirt inside-out and his hands cuffed behind his back.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Designed with a deep V-neck, pleated front, and cuffed sleeves that can be rolled up or down, this versatile blouse can be worn casually with jeans or dressed up with a pair of trousers.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
Arrested in Miami Rocha, who was cuffed and wearing a khaki detention uniform, is the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
The Oscar winner opted for a three-piece suit, wearing a plunging gray vest, sans shirt, which showed off her décolleté; cuffed cigarette pants; and a blazer.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
The body camera footage then shows Gilliam being led to a patrol car, hands cuffed behind her back.
—Colleen Slevin The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024
After capturing the man, officers cuffed his hands behind his back and shackled his legs, the indictment said.
—Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2024
This essay is a pitch-perfect example of letting the details speak for themselves:
Palestinian men and boys between the ages of 12 and 70 are stripped, cuffed, blindfolded and then loaded onto the backs of trucks to be taken for interrogation.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 8 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cuff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English coffe, cuffe mitten
Verb (2)
perhaps from obsolete English, glove, from Middle English
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun (2)
1570, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing cuff
Dictionary Entries Near cuff
Cite this Entry
“Cuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuff. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
cuff
1 of 3 noun1
: a part of a sleeve or glove that goes around the wrist
2
: the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
3
: a band that is capable of being inflated and is wrapped around an arm or leg to control the flow of blood through the part when measuring blood pressure
cuff
2 of 3 verb
: to strike with or as if with the palm of the hand
cuff
3 of 3 noun
: a blow with the hand especially when open : slap
Medical Definition
cuff
noun1
: an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
2
: an anatomical structure shaped like a cuff
especially
: rotator cuff
repair of complete shoulder cuff avulsion —Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology
Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology
More from Merriam-Webster on cuff
Nglish: Translation of cuff for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cuff for Arabic Speakers
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