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
Dolan’s discomfiture is understandable, as cord-cutting was already doing a number on the legacy RSN model well before the NBA began beefing up its national TV slate at the expense of the local sports channels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Behind the fun of the new commercial is some serious business for DirecTV, which has been heavily promoting its streaming service as its legacy satellite pay-TV platform continues to shed subscribers in the age of cord-cutting.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
The cable giant also introduced its Xumo streaming platform joint venture involving Comcast to stem the loss of video customers amid continuing cable cord-cutting in the U.S. market.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
In a time of great upheaval for RSNs due to cord-cutting and lengthy carriage disputes, Wisnia said NESN controls its own destiny.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 2025
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Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Behind the fun of the new commercial is some serious business for DirecTV, which has been heavily promoting its streaming service as its legacy satellite pay-TV platform continues to shed subscribers in the age of cord-cutting.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
The cable giant also introduced its Xumo streaming platform joint venture involving Comcast to stem the loss of video customers amid continuing cable cord-cutting in the U.S. market.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
In a time of great upheaval for RSNs due to cord-cutting and lengthy carriage disputes, Wisnia said NESN controls its own destiny.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 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 8 May. 2025.
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