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

Although 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

The 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

Examples of cord-cutting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wasn’t cord-cutting supposed to be cheaper? —Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cord-cutting

• abutting
• crosscutting
• rebutting
• butting
• cutting
• gutting
• jutting
• meting
• putting
• rutting
• shutting
• smiting