cord-cutting

American  

[kawrd-kuht-ing] / ˈkɔrdˌkʌt ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of canceling landline or cable television service in favor of alternatives such as cellular phone, internet streaming, and satellite television.

2. Usually, cord cutting, the act of cutting a newborn's umbilical cord after childbirth.

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adjective

1. relating to or engaging in the process of canceling landline or cable television service in favor of alternatives such as cellular phone, internet streaming, and satellite television.

Example Sentences

Disney’s recent underperformance was influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, cord-cutting, and the high cost of growing Disney+.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

But “The Madison” and “America’s Culinary Cup” have potential, and if you’re a cord-cutting sports fan, March Madness will be tempting.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

While there have been declines in revenues because of cord-cutting, the company, which includes USA Network, SYFY, CNBC, Golf Channel, E! and Oxygen, says it still delivers double-digit profit margins.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

After years of cable cord-cutting, the Academy needed a way to maintain relevance and increase viewership.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Many distributors are trying to keep programming costs down in an effort to lessen the financial blow of cord-cutting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025