cutback

American  

[kuht-bak] / ˈkʌtˌbæk /

noun

1. a reduction in rate, quantity, etc..

   a cutback in production.

2. a return in the course of a story, motion picture, etc., to earlier events.

3. Football. a play in which the ball-carrier abruptly reverses direction, especially by starting to make an end run and then turning suddenly to run toward the middle of the line.

4. a maneuver in surfing of heading the surfboard back toward a wave's crest.

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cutback British  

/ ˈkʌtˌbæk /

noun

1. a decrease or reduction

2. another word (esp US) for flashback

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verb

1. (tr) to shorten by cutting off the end; prune

2. to reduce or make a reduction (in)

3. (intr) (in films) to show an event that took place earlier in the narrative; flash back

Etymology

Origin of cutback

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase cut back

Example Sentences

Shortly after it bought Radford Studio Center, the industry began to see theatrical slowdowns from the pandemic, the 2023 dual writers’ and actors’ strikes and the cutback in spending at the studios.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

The first chance of the opening half fell to Diallo, who fired wide after connecting with a cutback.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

Set ‘a cutback goal’ of 10% to 20% for this year, and put the difference in an investment account.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 26, 2025

Haaland was kept quiet in the first half, not managing an effort on goal, before coming alive after the break with devastating effect by heading in from Nico O'Reilly's cross and converting via Savinho's cutback.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

“Since the cutback in rations, I see a difference. They grow sleepy, they have trouble concentrating. . . .”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• belt-tightening
• decline
• reduction
• reversal