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carveout

American  
[kahrv-aut] / ˈkɑrvˌaʊt /

noun

  1. a process of reorganizing a corporation by creating a subsidiary and offering the public a minority of its stock, while the parent company remains in charge of the company; a partial spin-off.

  2. exemption from a provision of the law.


Etymology

Origin of carveout

First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase carve out


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Yet even this generous carveout was not broad enough for some religious groups.

From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2025

It’s a narrow carveout, and lifts once a public body has taken final action.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2024

Notable exemptions include Google-owned YouTube, which “appears to stem from the carveout for businesses that offer cloud storage and that make less than 25% of their revenue from social media,” Fung writes.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 13, 2023

"That could be the ballgame," predicted New York University Law Prof. Ryan Goodman, adding that the carveout the judge gave Pence was "very narrow."

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2023

School districts will be reimbursed for their expenses through a $5,595,000 carveout from the state’s school fund.

From Washington Times ● May 2, 2022

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