cord-cutting
noun
cord-cut·ting
ˈkȯrd-ˌkə-tiŋ 
variants
or less commonly cord cutting
: the act or process of canceling a subscription to cable television or to a landline telephone service
As cable news begins to feel the squeeze from cord-cutting, arch-rivals Fox News and CNN are stepping up efforts to adapt to the trend that poses a long-term threat to their businesses.—
Stephen Battaglio
Stephen BattaglioAlthough broadband rates don't appear to be rising substantially as a whole, there's a chance that cord cutting could someday lead providers to increase monthly Internet bills to mitigate the loss of cable customers, according to a MoffettNathanson report.—Makeda Easter
Makeda EasterThe majority of Americans … now rely solely on wireless telephones. That watershed cord-cutting moment was reached in the last half of 2016, according to the federal government.—Jan Cottingham
Jan CottinghamExamples of cord-cutting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The financial structure of big media companies, which benefited for decades from the dual revenue stream of distribution and advertising, is now cratering due to cord-cutting.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Aug. 2025
Importantly, the deal also covers local rights for five smaller MLB franchises – Cleveland, San Diego, Minnesota, Arizona and Colorado – that have struggled to find adequate home-town video distribution since the collapse of most regional sports networks amid cable cord-cutting.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Beset by cord-cutting that threatens its mainstay traditional TV business, Disney has grown the audience for its bundle of streaming services.
—ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
Cognizant of cord-cutting and the increasing number of cord-nevers, the NFL wants to make sure its games are available to people who don’t want to drop $100 per month or more for pay-TV.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
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Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Aug. 2025
Importantly, the deal also covers local rights for five smaller MLB franchises – Cleveland, San Diego, Minnesota, Arizona and Colorado – that have struggled to find adequate home-town video distribution since the collapse of most regional sports networks amid cable cord-cutting.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Beset by cord-cutting that threatens its mainstay traditional TV business, Disney has grown the audience for its bundle of streaming services.
—ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
Cognizant of cord-cutting and the increasing number of cord-nevers, the NFL wants to make sure its games are available to people who don’t want to drop $100 per month or more for pay-TV.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cord-cutting
Cite this Entry
“Cord-cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cord-cutting. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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