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

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

Like the position cable TV held before cord-cutting, consumers will keep subscribing to Netflix in a weakening economy. —Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Tune-in over the years has continued to defy gravity despite cord-cutting. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025

The cords in [Result of some cord-cutting, informally] are umbilical cords, and the result is an INNIE belly button. —Deb Amlen, New York Times, 27 Mar. 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