cutaway

1 of 2

adjective

cut·​away ˈkət-ə-ˌwā 

: having or showing parts cut away

a cutaway drawing

cutaway

2 of 2

noun

1

: a coat with skirts tapering from the front waistline to form tails at the back

2

a

: a cutaway picture or representation

b

: a shot that interrupts the main action of a film or television program to take up a related subject or to depict action supposed to be going on at the same time as the main action

3

: a back dive in which the head is lowered toward the board after the takeoff

Examples of cutaway in a Sentence

Adjective

The diagram shows a cutaway view of an engine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

All of this is presented in clean, efficient cutaway scenes, branches that sprout from the investigation that forms the core of the story. —Katie Rife, Chron, 17 Nov. 2022

One cutaway gag involves Homer scribbling profusely on a chalkboard, the bottom of which shows a math equation. —Mike Bloom, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2022

Noun

However, recurring cutaways to present-day tours at an exaggerated interpretation of Prague’s real-life Kafka Museum strike an odd note. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025

Back in the day, its sister shows on Fox were The Simpsons and Family Guy, two punch-line-heavy shows with lots of cutaway gags and surreal touches. —Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cutaway

1 of 2 adjective

cut·​away ˈkət-ə-ˌwā 

: showing the top or outside cut away so the inside parts can be seen

a cutaway view

cutaway

2 of 2 noun

1

: a coat with skirts cut from the front waistline to form tails at the back

2

: a cutaway illustration