cutout

1 of 3

noun

cut·​out ˈkət-ˌau̇t 

1

: something cut out or off from something else

also : the space or hole left after cutting

2

: one that cuts out

3

: an intermediary in a clandestine operation

4

: a record album no longer in production that is sold at a discount

cutout adjective

cut out

2 of 3

verb

cut out; cutting out; cuts out

transitive verb

1

: to remove by cutting

cut out a recipe from a magazine

2

: to form or shape by cutting or carving

cut out a big red heart from the paper

3

: to determine or assign through necessity

You've got your work cut out for you.

4

: to take the place of : supplant

plans to cut out his rivals

5

: to put an end to : desist from

cut out wasteful spending

6

: deprive, defraud

cut him out of his share

7

a

: to remove from a series or circuit : disconnect

cut out a car from a train

b

: to make inoperative

intransitive verb

1

: to depart in haste

2

: to cease operating

the engine cut out

3

: to swerve out of a traffic line

cut out

3 of 3

adjective

: naturally fitted or suited

not cut out for this job

Synonyms of cutout

Verb

• die
• fail
• crash
• stall
• break down

Examples of cutout in a Sentence

Noun

a cardboard cutout of a famous actor

Verb

the engine abruptly cut out

now cut that out, or I'm turning this car around!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Also in the crowd was Kylie Jenner, who wore her own rule-bending look—a black dress with hip cutouts and a super high center slit. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 18 Aug. 2026

Even the cardboard Celine Dion presiding over their kitchen was inspired by a Roy Orbison cutout Meyer and McLean once regarded as a kind of third roommate. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

Others are keeping data analog longer, since early digitization is expensive and skipping it for certain operations cuts out a major power drain. — David Schie, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The sound just completely cut out — twice — while Cross was in mid-song, forcing him to stop the show and then try to figure out what to do next. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Adjective

1645, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cutout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• devout
• dropout
• dugout

Kids Definition

cutout

1 of 3 noun

cut·​out ˈkət-ˌau̇t 

: something cut out or off from something else

cutout adjective

cut out

2 of 3 verb

1

: to assign through necessity

you've got your work cut out for you

2

: to put an end to

now cut that out

3

: to come to a stop

the engines cut out

cut out

3 of 3 adjective

: naturally suited

not cut out for teaching