cutoff

/kəˈtɒf/

//kəˈtɒf// noun

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

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

The verdict

“cutoff” has 7 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #22,052. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#22,052
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
7
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The point at which something terminates or to which it is limited.

Corpus desk

Index EN-cutoff · cutoff · English

cutoff · rank #22,052 · 7 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #22,052
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-MID 7 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH cumming

Nearest frequency peer: cumming (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “cutoff”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “cutoff” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

cutoff vs cutout
67% similar
cutoff vs cuff
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for cutoff
PropertyValue
Headwordcutoff
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kəˈtɒf/
Letters6
Frequency rank#22,052
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cutoff” 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).cutoff lands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 7 spelling variants around cutoff (IPA /kəˈtɒf/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #22,052 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 10 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for cutoff, with forms such as "ccutoff", "ctuoff", and "cuotff". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "cutout", "cuff", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from cut off. The correct English form is cutoff, spelled C-U-T-O-F-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    The point at which something terminates or to which it is limited.
  2. 2
    The point at which something terminates or to which it is limited.
  3. 3
    A road, path or channel that provides a shorter or quicker path; a shortcut.
  4. 4
    A device that stops the flow of a current.
  5. 5
    A device for saving steam by regulating its admission to the cylinder (see quotation at cut-off).
  6. 6
    A cessation in a flow or activity.
  7. 7
    The player who acts directly before the player on the button pre-flop.
  8. 8
    Shorts made by cutting off the legs from trousers.
  9. 9
    A sleeveless shirt, especially one made by cutting the sleeves off of a t-shirt.
  10. 10
    A horizontal line separating sections of the page.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how cutoff appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. If the treatment is approved, a script is written. If the script is approved, it goes into production. But this is usually a long and painful process. A cutoff can take place (and often does) at any step along the way.
  2. […] I spotted through the window a young woman casually crossing Astor Place wearing a pair of cutoffs, some sandals and — it is fully legal to do this — naked above the waist.

Etymology

Deverbal from cut off.

This word in other languages

corte(Español)seuil(Français)término(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccutoff
  • ctuoff
  • cuotff
  • cutfof
  • cutof
  • cuttoff
  • uctoff

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of cutoff - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ccutoff1ctuoff2cuotff2cutfof2cutof1cuttoff1uctoff2
Edit distance from "cutoff"

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.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 3, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cutoff"?
"cutoff" is spelled C-U-T-O-F-F. The IPA pronunciation is /kəˈtɒf/.
What does "cutoff" mean?
As a noun, "cutoff" means: The point at which something terminates or to which it is limited.
What words are commonly confused with "cutoff"?
"cutoff" is commonly confused with "cutout", "cuff". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cutoff"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cutoff" is /kəˈtɒf/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "cutoff"?
Deverbal from cut off. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "cutoff", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

detain#22,056crafty#22,047disarm#22,059entail#22,073

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (7 here; floor ≥5).

chico7 variantsflake7 variantsbouts7 variantsaswell7 variants

What to do next

You've looked up "cutoff". Here's where to go from here.

  • "cutoff" maps to 2 confusable pairs in this vintage; the highest-scored is "cutout". View pair
  • 7 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
  • Usage frequency rank #22,052 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "C" letter cohort. C–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

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