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: shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher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
Synonyms
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 WebDanielle Jennings, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Disaster victims get a break on forthcoming IRS tax deadline
The scariest thing about October, for many of us, is facing the ghost of tax deadlines past and running into the Oct. 15 cutoff for the six-month filing extension.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
Verna Kale, The Conversation, 18 Oct. 2024
The balloon’s string, still attached to a radio transmitter, had gouged into the bird’s flesh—fracturing bones, killing tissues and cutting off circulation to the bird’s feet.
—Danielle Beurteaux, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cutoff 
Noun
Reese paired the custom, one-of-a-kind jersey with cutoff denim shorts, black knee-high boots and a turquoise Chanel bag.
—Danielle Jennings, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Disaster victims get a break on forthcoming IRS tax deadline
The scariest thing about October, for many of us, is facing the ghost of tax deadlines past and running into the Oct. 15 cutoff for the six-month filing extension.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
Verb
Though communications were down and the island was cut off from the mainland, Key West had sustained relatively little damage.
—Verna Kale, The Conversation, 18 Oct. 2024
The balloon’s string, still attached to a radio transmitter, had gouged into the bird’s flesh—fracturing bones, killing tissues and cutting off circulation to the bird’s feet.
—Danielle Beurteaux, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cutoff
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cutoff
Cite this Entry
“Cutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutoff. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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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