cost-cut
Americanverb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of cost-cut
First recorded in 1970–75
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:
UnitedHealth now will have to cost-cut its way out of its problems.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
The administration all but cost-cut the singers out of the budget until saved by an anonymous donor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025
While announcing a cost-cut plan in September, Subramaniam withdrew profit targets he had just set in June.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2023
The national government, however, outsourced many aspects of the expulsion, contracting with private companies that penny-pinched and cost-cut to maximize their profits.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 9, 2020
"Corporate America has cost-cut just about as much as they can," said Jeffery Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James Financial.
From Reuters ● Jul. 26, 2013
He also said that the company was making progress on cost-cutting actions, including "a reduced headcount of approximately 3,000 positions" compared to the first half of 2025.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Tepid domestic spending means that many Chinese companies have lowered prices, squeezing profits and forcing them into cost-cutting mode.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
He said training more assessors and scrapping the appeals system could make it easier for disabled people to get the support they need and "in effect be a cost-cutting exercise".
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Microsoft said Monday it was eliminating about 4,800 jobs -- roughly two percent of its global workforce -- in a cost-cutting move that will deliver a sweeping restructuring of its struggling Xbox gaming division.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
Only limited restructuring of industry has occurred so far because of a scarcity of investment funds and the failure of enterprise managers to make hard cost-cutting decisions.
From The 1995 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
