cutback

American  

[kuht-bak] / ˈkʌtˌbæk /

noun

1. a reduction in rate, quantity, etc..

   a cutback in production.

2. a return in the course of a story, motion picture, etc., to earlier events.

3. Football. a play in which the ball-carrier abruptly reverses direction, especially by starting to make an end run and then turning suddenly to run toward the middle of the line.

4. a maneuver in surfing of heading the surfboard back toward a wave's crest.

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cutback British  

/ ˈkʌtˌbæk /

noun

1. a decrease or reduction

2. another word (esp US) for flashback

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verb

1. (tr) to shorten by cutting off the end; prune

2. to reduce or make a reduction (in)

3. (intr) (in films) to show an event that took place earlier in the narrative; flash back

Etymology

Origin of cutback

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase cut back

Explanation

A cutback is a decrease in something, usually money. A state cutback in funding for education might result in larger classes and fewer field trips. During difficult economic times, money is scarce and cutbacks are almost inevitable. If your parents are having money troubles, there may be cutbacks in your allowance, and when state governments suffer, there are often cutbacks in aid for schools, roads, and people in need. In news reports, you'll often hear phrases like "cutbacks in defense spending" or "cutbacks in overtime pay."

Example Sentences

Shortly after it bought Radford Studio Center, the industry began to see theatrical slowdowns from the pandemic, the 2023 dual writers’ and actors’ strikes and the cutback in spending at the studios.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

Israel-based centre-back Seck headed Senegal into the lead from Krepin Diatta's free-kick on 38 minutes and their second goal arrived just after the hour when a superb cutback by Mane was turned in by Diallo.

From Barron's • Dec. 30, 2025

Set ‘a cutback goal’ of 10% to 20% for this year, and put the difference in an investment account.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 26, 2025

Garnacho, like his team-mates, put in a largely flat display at Craven Cottage, but did play a part in the winner, with his cutback eventually finding its way to goalscorer Martinez.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2025

Apparently there had been a cutback in rations recently: still the food was better and more plentiful than at Scheveningen where there had been no noonday meal at all.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• belt-tightening
• decline
• reduction
• reversal