deep cut
noun
plural deep cuts
1
music
: a song that is considerably less popular and well-known than other songs on the same album or by the same artist
From there, the band careened through highlights and the occasional deep cut from its catalog …—
Mikael Wood
Mikael WoodBut the rocker saw an opportunity to turn casual fans on to his deep cuts—so each disc intersperses hits with lesser-known album tracks in non-chronological order.—David Browne
David Browne2
: something (such as an obscure reference to a book or movie) that is recognizable to devotees but not usually to others
One of the fun things about being a Marvel fan is the franchise's ability to constantly surprise its audience with comic book deep cuts, surprising castings, and twists that no one sees coming.—Alexis Nedd
Alexis Nedd
deep-cut
adjective
a deep-cut reference/joke
Examples of deep cut in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Federal layoffs On the heels of deep cuts to the federal workforce earlier this year, the White House laid off thousands more employees over the weekend.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
The agency was already experiencing deep cuts to its staff and resources before the shutdown.
—Richard Forno, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
For decades, mechanical royalties from a deep cut on a popular album could get a writer enough to buy a house, but today, streaming revenue on even a viral hit may not be enough to cover rent.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Democrats have refused to support a funding bill unless Republicans agree to reverse deep cuts to Medicaid and extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
National Institutes of Health funding, now facing deep cuts, has supported research in other parts of the world that led to new, life-saving interventions.
—Dr. Seth Berkley, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Band member Steve Block tells me that in celebration of the show, the band plans to play some of its deep cuts and expects the night to be an unofficial 45th reunion for the Willow Glen High class of 1980 (where the band got its start).
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
Horn sustained a deep cut to his left hand, which required stitches.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
Miran, who replaced Adriana Kugler, has been a Fed critic and he is expected to push for deep cuts.
—Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
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Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
The agency was already experiencing deep cuts to its staff and resources before the shutdown.
—Richard Forno, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
For decades, mechanical royalties from a deep cut on a popular album could get a writer enough to buy a house, but today, streaming revenue on even a viral hit may not be enough to cover rent.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Democrats have refused to support a funding bill unless Republicans agree to reverse deep cuts to Medicaid and extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
National Institutes of Health funding, now facing deep cuts, has supported research in other parts of the world that led to new, life-saving interventions.
—Dr. Seth Berkley, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Band member Steve Block tells me that in celebration of the show, the band plans to play some of its deep cuts and expects the night to be an unofficial 45th reunion for the Willow Glen High class of 1980 (where the band got its start).
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
Horn sustained a deep cut to his left hand, which required stitches.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
Miran, who replaced Adriana Kugler, has been a Fed critic and he is expected to push for deep cuts.
—Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deep cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deep%20cut. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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