clean-cut

[kleen-kuht]

adjective

1. having distinct, regular shape.

   a face with clean-cut features.

2. clearly outlined.

3. neat and wholesome.

   a polite, clean-cut young man.

4. unambiguously clear; unmistakable; clear-cut.

   The case against him is a clean-cut one.

clean-cut

adjective

1. clearly outlined; neat

   clean-cut lines of a ship

2. definite

   a clean-cut decision in boxing

Word History and Origins

Origin of clean-cut¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Warner, who was best known for his portrayal of clean-cut Theodore Huxtable, drowned while swimming in the Caribbean off Costa Rica.

From Los Angeles Times

She shared the video of Warner, best known for his portrayal of clean-cut Theodore Huxtable, a week after he drowned while swimming in the Caribbean off Costa Rica.

From Los Angeles Times

It had a habit of poking at power with the good-natured grin of a clean-cut, handsome host.

From Salon

The other park, not far up the coast, was as perky and clean-cut as a barbershop quartet, painted the colors of sand and sky, with shipshape and jaunty ocean-inspired adventures, and zippy, futuristic, razzle-dazzle rides.

From Los Angeles Times

On top of that, the proposal also makes it clear that the Trump campaign’s promise to broadly shut down immigration won’t be so clean-cut.

From Salon

Related Words

• chiseled