cutback

noun

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

"cutback" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cutback” is uncommon English (frequency #58,625 among 43,570 “C” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#58,625
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A reduction of some sort in an existing program or service.

Key facts for cutback
PropertyValue
Headwordcutback
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters7
Frequency rank#58,625
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cutback” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). cutback lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

cutback is uncommon English at frequency #58,625 among 43,570 “C” headwords, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for cutback in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from cut back. The correct English form is cutback, spelled C-U-T-B-A-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A reduction of some sort in an existing program or service.
  2. 2
    Maneuver where the surfer turns and surfs back towards where the wave is breaking.
  3. 3
    Solvent-thinned bitumen used in cold process roofing adhesives, cements and coatings.
  4. 4
    An offensive pass played into a position further from the attacking goal line.
  5. 5
    An inversion feature of a rollercoaster, similar to a corkscrew but with the second half reversed.

Etymology

Deverbal from cut back.

This word in other languages

recorte(Español)Kürzung(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cutback"?
"cutback" is spelled C-U-T-B-A-C-K.
What does "cutback" mean?
As a noun, "cutback" means: A reduction of some sort in an existing program or service.
What is the origin of the word "cutback"?
Deverbal from cut back. See the full etymology section above for more details.
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 “cutback”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-T-B-A-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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