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Suffix · forms adjectives

-cut

Describes how something turned out after being cut or shaped: clean-cut (neat, tidy-looking) and well-cut (well-tailored).

In Spanish: de corte / perfilado / definidoLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated August 2026

What this suffix does

-cut forms compound adjectives that describe the sharpness, clarity, or quality of edges, outlines, and definitions. Clean-cut, sharp-cut, well-cut, deep-cut, rough-cut — each compound describes how clearly and precisely something is defined or shaped. The figurative -cut compounds are particularly important: "clean-cut" has become one of the standard descriptors for a certain type of conventional, well-defined, respectable appearance and character. In media and cultural criticism -cut compounds describe the precision with which an argument, image, or narrative is defined.

How it is formed

Adverb or adjective + cut.

  • clean + cut
    clean-cut (neat, tidy-looking)
  • well + cut
    well-cut (well-tailored)
  • rough + cut
    rough-cut (unpolished, unrefined)

This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.

How it is pronounced

-cut

Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

Base word
With -cut
In a phrase
  • cleanclean-cutHe showed up looking clean-cut for the job interview.
  • sharpsharp-cutThe sharp-cut lines of the building make it look very modern.
  • wellwell-cutA well-cut suit can make a big difference at an interview.
  • deepdeep-cutThe deep-cut wound needed several stitches.
  • roughrough-cutThis is just a rough-cut version of the video, it's not finished yet.

Common mistakes

clean-cut = of a specific physical appearance only
clean-cut describes both physical appearance and the moral/social impression it projects

"Clean-cut" in physical terms means having well-defined, neat features and a tidy, conventional appearance. In social and moral terms it means projecting an image of conventional respectability, honesty, and reliability. The two senses are deeply connected: the neat appearance is read as a sign of the conventional moral character. A "clean-cut" person is assumed to be straightforward and reliable, partly because they look it.

deep-cut = only about literal wounds
deep-cut is frequently used figuratively for damage to reputation, institutions, or relationships

"Deep-cut" in figurative use describes damage or harm that has reached far into the structure of something — not just surface wounds but damage that will take a long time to heal. "Deep-cut wounds to credibility," "deep-cut reductions in funding," "the deep-cut aftermath of the scandal" — in each case the cut has gone deep enough to cause structural harm rather than merely surface damage.

A trick to remember it

"Clean-cut" is one of the most culturally loaded compound adjectives in American English. It describes a very specific type of person: conventionally attractive, neatly groomed, apparently honest and straightforward, projecting traditional values through their appearance. It is not just a physical description but a whole social and moral profile. In advertising and politics it is used to signal trustworthiness; in cultural criticism it is often used ironically to describe the gap between the clean-cut appearance and a less clean reality.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Fill in: "The ___ young spokesperson had clearly been chosen as much for his appearance as for his communication skills." (having neat, conventional, respectable-looking features and projecting an image of straightforward reliability)

Hint: Clean + cut = whose edges (appearance and character) are cleanly defined; neat and conventionally respectable.

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

"The well-cut jacket was the first thing every interviewer noticed and the last thing they remembered." What does "well-cut" suggest?

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Fill in: "The ___ version of the film, before studio interference, had a rawness that was completely lost in the final edit." (roughly shaped, without the polish of final editing; showing the unfinished edges)

Hint: Rough + cut = roughly shaped, without final polish; showing unfinished edges.

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -cut mean in English?

The suffix -cut describes how something turned out after being cut or shaped: clean-cut (neat, tidy-looking) and well-cut (well-tailored). In Spanish it usually maps to de corte / perfilado / definido.

Can you give an example of a word with -cut?

"clean" becomes "clean-cut". It is a typical example of the -cut suffix.

Other useful suffixes

  • -edged

    Describes the kind of edge something has, literal or figurative: double-edged (cuts both ways) and sharp-edged (sharp, cutting).

  • -faced

    Describes someone's attitude or expression, literal or moral: two-faced (fake, hypocritical) and straight-faced (keeping a serious expression).

Learn every English suffix

-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.

View all suffixes
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