cutting edge

noun

1

: a sharp effect or quality

2

: the foremost part or place : vanguard

cutting-edge

ˈkə-tiŋ-ˌej 

adjective

Synonyms of cutting edge

• vanguard
• underground
• pioneer

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

The museum will include five gallery spaces that will cover 25,000 total square feet; an additional 10,000 square feet are set aside for the technologies and hardware required to run the type of cutting edge digital art that will be on view at DATALAND. —Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 2026

The first-year law course is just one part of Mississippi College’s larger effort to be a leader in ethical and cutting edge AI education, usage and policy. —Katherine Lin, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026

But inside, the agency is operating on the cutting edge of technology. —Bo Evans, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026

From the upper echelons of global logistics to the cutting edge of industrial energy, this week’s business landscape is defined by transition and rapid scaling. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cutting edge

• allege
• straightedge
• dredge
• hedge
• ledge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge

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