cutting edge

noun

Synonyms of cutting edgenext
1
: a sharp effect or quality
2
: the foremost part or place : vanguard
cutting-edge adjective

Examples of cutting edge in a Sentence

a company that has always been on the cutting edge of the new electronic media He's a director who tries to keep his films right on the cutting edge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Amid declining enrollment, perhaps AI offers a way for districts to both cut costs and seem cutting edge. Niral Shah, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025 Iger stressed repeatedly Disney wants to be on the cutting edge of how technology reinvents entertainment. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025 Most Japanese-style carbon-steel kitchen knives have asymmetric bevels, meaning that each side of the cutting edge is sharpened at a different angle. Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025 Shun’s traditional Damascus steel mixes its high-carbon VG-MAX core with a more corrosion-resistant stainless steel for higher performance on the cutting edge while remaining easy to clean and maintain. Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cutting edge

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutting edge was in 1804

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cutting edge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutting%20edge. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

cutting edge

noun
1
: the sharp edge of a cutting tool
2
: the newest and most advanced area of an activity
cutting-edge adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!