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Synonyms

curtail

1 American  
[ker-teyl] / kərˈteɪl /

verb (used with object)

  1. to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish.

    Synonyms:
    dock, lessen
curtail 2 American  
[kur-teyl] / ˈkɜrˌteɪl /

noun

Architecture.

  1. a horizontal, spiral termination to the lower end of a stair railing.

  2. Also called curtail step.  a starting step having a scroll termination to one or both ends of the tread.

curtail British  
/ kɜːˈteɪl /

verb

  1. (tr) to cut short; abridge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See shorten.

Other Word Forms

  • curtailedly adverb
  • curtailer noun
  • curtailment noun
  • noncurtailing adjective
  • uncurtailed adjective

Etymology

Origin of curtail1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English curtailen “to restrict” (said of royal succession or inheritance), probably a conflation of Middle French courtau(l)d ( curtal ) and Middle English taillen “to cut” ( taille, tailor 1 )

Origin of curtail2

Probably alteration, by folk etymology, of curtal

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.

When the extension cords running to the back popped the circuit breakers, repeatedly, he tried to curtail electricity usage in the camp.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

For years, nutrition scientists, food-policy researchers and public-health advocates have called for a definition of UPFs, along with policy changes that could help curtail their presence in our food supply.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

"Demand for labour is weak, which should curtail workers' bargaining power and limit the scope for a pick-up in wage growth," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

He points to one study showing that hot-yoga classes can curtail depression more effectively than antidepressant drugs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

By submitting guests to a mild form of the distemper, which should last for some few weeks, he might greatly curtail the mortality of his acquaintance and their households.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

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.