clear-cut

American  

[kleer-kuht, kleer-kuht] / ˈklɪərˈkʌt, ˈklɪərˌkʌt /

Also clear cut,

adjective

1. formed with or having clearly defined outlines.

   a face with clear-cut features.

   Synonyms:

   definite, positive, precise, crisp, chiseled

2. unambiguously clear; completely evident; definite.

   His sale of secrets was a clear-cut example of treachery.

3. of or relating to a section of forest where all trees have been cut down for harvesting.

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noun

1. a section of forest where all trees have been cut down for harvesting.

verb (used with object)

clear-cut, clear-cutting

1. to fell all the trees in (a section of forest) for harvesting.

clear-cut British  

adjective

1. definite; not vague

   a clear-cut proposal

2. clearly outlined

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verb

1. (tr) another term for clear-fell

Other Word Forms

• clear-cutness
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of clear-cut

First recorded in 1850–55

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clear-cut clear-cutting

The tax-exempt status also isn’t clear-cut because the payment is only postponed and each state has its own rules for fuel taxes.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

When it comes to the research Anthropic detected and blocked that was related to biological weapons, the intent of the actors was less clear-cut and the AI lab did not identify them.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

So it’s not a clear-cut choice of: Do I use this or not?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Even in concert cancellation situations that seem clear-cut to outsiders, insurance payouts aren’t guaranteed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

He’d had a very precise, clear-cut plan; now, as usual, Koffi was dismantling it.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

California, biomass energy advocates say, has struggled to get past its distrust of the technology, given traditional biomass’ checkered past of clear-cutting forests and polluting poorer communities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2025

"During the helicopter flight, we could see clear-cutting occurring within a couple of miles of the site that we were surveying."

From Salon ● Nov. 24, 2024

And most ecologists regard degradation as the consequence of the type of large scale clear-cutting that is nearly the universal method of logging in Canada.

From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2024

"Unleashing forest companies to build hundreds of kilometers more road to do more clear-cutting results in a worse situation, not a better one," Foy said.

From Reuters ● Jun. 12, 2023

The very terror of this clear-cutting sword-sweep, dividing us, bone from bone, may, nay! probably will, send us back to our gentle "lovers of humanity" who, "knowing everything pardon everything."

From Visions and Revisions A Book of Literary Devotions by John Cowper Powys

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