1
: the act or action of cutting off
2
a
: the new and relatively short channel formed when a stream cuts through the neck of an oxbow
b
c
: a channel made to straighten a stream
3
: a device for cutting off
4
a
: something cut off
b
cutoffs plural
: shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher
5
: the point, date, or period for a cutoff
cutoff
adjective
cut off; cutting off; cuts off
1
: to bring to an untimely end
Each one of those names reflects a life that was prematurely cut off …—
John Kerry
John Kerry2
: to stop the passage of
cut off communications
4
: discontinue, terminate
cut off a subscription
6
a
: disinherit
threatened to cut him off without a penny
b
: to refuse to serve (someone) more alcohol
The bartender cut them off.
7
a
: to stop the operation of : turn off
cut off the engine
b
: to stop or interrupt while in communication
the operator cut me off
: to cease operating
Examples of cutoff in a Sentence
Noun
a cutoff of the water supply
The cutoff for new applications is next Wednesday.
Verb
the majority party cut off debate and forced a vote on the bill
the dog cut off the one sheep that had to be sheared
Recent Examples on the Web
Erin Black, CNBC, 30 Nov. 2025
The 40 percent that some people lose on retatrutide would be far too much for a patient barely over the BMI cutoff for obesity.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025
Mohammed Hanif, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Western nations attempted to limit Russia's resources by implementing sanctions and switching to alternative energy sources or supplies of oil to cut off Russia's cash flow.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutoff
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Noun
In the case of the Air India crash in June, data revealed both engine fuel switches were put into a cutoff position within one second of each other.
—Erin Black, CNBC, 30 Nov. 2025
The 40 percent that some people lose on retatrutide would be far too much for a patient barely over the BMI cutoff for obesity.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025
Verb
Now, the Pakistani authorities, despite court orders, have cut off Khan from contact with his family and his lawyers.
—Mohammed Hanif, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Western nations attempted to limit Russia's resources by implementing sanctions and switching to alternative energy sources or supplies of oil to cut off Russia's cash flow.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutoff
Cite this Entry
“Cutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutoff. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cutoff
1 of 2 noun
cut·off
ˈkət-ˌȯf 
1
a
: the action of cutting off
b
: the point or date that cutting off occurs
2
: a device for cutting off
3
plural
: shorts made from jeans with the legs cut off short
cutoff
adjective
cut off
2 of 2 verbˌkət-ˈȯf
1
: to stop the flow or movement of
cut off a supply
2
: isolate
cut off from the world
3
: discontinue sense 2
they cut off relations with us
4
: to stop from talking
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