SpeakUP Academy
Descubre tu nivel
HomeSuffixes-cut
ESEN

Suffix · forms adjectives

-cut

shaped, defined, or formed by cutting in a specified manner; having edges or outlines of a specified clarity and sharpness

In Spanish: de corte / perfilado / definidoLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated June 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 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-cutThe clean-cut candidate projected the image of reliability that the party needed after years of controversy.
  • sharpsharp-cutThe sharp-cut distinctions in the essay left no room for the ambiguity the subject actually contained.
  • wellwell-cutThe well-cut suit announced money before the man had said a word.
  • deepdeep-cutThe deep-cut wounds to the institution's credibility had not healed in the fifteen years since the scandal.
  • roughrough-cutThe rough-cut documentary had a directness that no amount of post-production polish could have improved.

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 shaped, defined, or formed by cutting in a specified manner; having edges or outlines of a specified clarity and sharpness 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

    having an edge of a specified kind; having a quality that cuts, sharpens, or creates a dangerous boundary

  • -faced

    having a face (or manner of presenting oneself) of a specified character; describing expression, tone, or moral boldness

Learn every English suffix

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

View all suffixes
SpeakUP Academy

Aprende

  • Lecciones gratis
  • Test de nivel
  • Glosario
  • Falsos amigos

SpeakUP

  • Nosotros
  • Iniciar sesión

Legal

  • Términos
  • Privacidad
© 2026 SpeakUP Academy. Todos los derechos reservados.