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

Greensboro was on the cutting edge of the Civil Rights Movement, and during college, Jackson led near-daily demonstrations and sit-ins to integrate public accommodations. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

This cuts out months of waiting for prototypes to arrive from Asia, helping to keep new designs on the cutting edge of innovation while still rigorously field-tested. —Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026

As the creator of the Oculus Rift VR headset and founder of defense products firm Anduril, Luckey has spent years at the cutting edge of technology. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026

This is a brand-new social network called Moltbook, and all of its users are artificial intelligence agents — bots on the cutting edge of AI autonomy. —Jared Perlo, NBC news, 30 Jan. 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