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: shorts originally made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher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
Gabby Debenedictis, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
Martin University — which is a historically Black institution and Black-founded, but technically not classified as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) since it was founded after the cutoff date — will close after almost 50 years in operation.
—Essence, 13 Jan. 2026
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Footage of protests has surfaced despite the internet in Iran having been cut off since late last week, when Iranian authorities cut phone service and internet access in the capital during the protests, according to the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks.
—Holly Williams, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cutoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Existing MetroCards can still be used — the MTA will announce a cutoff date for accepting MetroCards later this year — but they can no longer be reloaded with funds.
—Gabby Debenedictis, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
Martin University — which is a historically Black institution and Black-founded, but technically not classified as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) since it was founded after the cutoff date — will close after almost 50 years in operation.
—Essence, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
From high-fashion runways to interior decor showrooms, the minimalism trend touched every corner of the design world, with creatives finding new ways to cut off the excess and focus on shape, quality, and bare-bones beauty.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Footage of protests has surfaced despite the internet in Iran having been cut off since late last week, when Iranian authorities cut phone service and internet access in the capital during the protests, according to the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks.
—Holly Williams, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cutoff
Cite this Entry
“Cutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutoff. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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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