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 form by erosion

2

: to determine or assign through necessity

you've got your work cut out for you

3

: to take the place of : supplant

4

: to put an end to : desist from

cut out wasteful spending

5

: deprive, defraud

cut him out of his share

6

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

3

: to swerve out of a traffic line

cut out

3 of 3

adjective

: naturally fitted or suited

not cut out to be a vet

Synonyms

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

During Christmas one year, when there was no money for a tree or decorations, mother and daughters taped leaves and pine cones to a paper cutout of a tree affixed to the living-room wall. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025

The dress included pleating throughout with a cutout featured just below the cape of the dress. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025

Verb

Tasked with bringing into reality those that are a little further down on the bizarre end of the spectrum, the show’s prosthetics and VFX teams had their work cut out for them. —Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025

As aforementioned, the two countries have increasingly settled trade in Yuan and Rubles and have been increasingly cut out of Western markets through tariffs and sanctions. —Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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