cut off

/kʌt ɔf/

//kʌt ɔf// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"cut-off" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cut off” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To remove by cutting.

Key facts for cut off
PropertyValue
Headwordcut off
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/kʌt ɔf/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cut off” sits in English frequency

cut off falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for cut off is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kʌt ɔf/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for cut off in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

No borrowing history is documented for this entry, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct English form is cut off, spelled C-U-T- -O-F-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    To remove by cutting.
  2. 2
    To isolate or remove from contact.
  3. 3
    To stop the provision or supply of something, e.g. power, water.
  4. 4
    To exclude (something) from the field of view.
  5. 5
    To stop providing funds or something else to (someone).
  6. 6
    To end abruptly.
  7. 7
    To interrupt (someone speaking).
  8. 8
    To swerve in front of (another car) while driving.
  9. 9
    To move so as to block someone else's movement in a direction.
  10. 10
    To turn off or switch off (an electrical device).

This word in other languages

cortar(Español)tailler(Français)abschneiden(Deutsch)recortar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cut off"?
"cut off" is spelled C-U-T- -O-F-F. The IPA pronunciation is /kʌt ɔf/.
What does "cut off" mean?
As a verb, "cut off" means: To remove by cutting.
How do you pronounce "cut off"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cut off" is /kʌt ɔf/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "cut off" come from?
"cut off" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “cut off”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-T- -O-F-F - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kʌt ɔf/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list