cost-cut: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Business/Formal
Quick answer
What does “cost-cut” mean?
To reduce expenditure, especially in a business or organizational context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To reduce expenditure, especially in a business or organizational context.
To implement measures designed to lower overall spending, often as part of a strategic efficiency drive, which can include reducing staff, streamlining processes, or eliminating services.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Both prefer the hyphenated form 'cost-cut' or 'cost-cutting' as an adjective/noun. The unhyphenated 'cost cut' as a noun phrase is also common in both.
Connotations
Same core meaning. May be perceived as slightly more euphemistic in UK business contexts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American business journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “cost-cut” in a Sentence
[Org] + cost-cut + [by amount/in area][Management] + cost-cut + [its way] + [to profit]be forced + to cost-cutVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cost-cut” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new CEO was brought in to cost-cut ruthlessly.
- The council must cost-cut after the grant was reduced.
American English
- The company will cost-cut by outsourcing its IT department.
- They had to cost-cut just to stay afloat.
adverb
British English
- The department was run cost-cuttingly, but morale suffered.
- They managed the project cost-cuttingly, using internal staff.
American English
- The team operated cost-cuttingly to meet the new budget.
- We had to travel cost-cuttingly, using budget airlines.
adjective
British English
- The cost-cut measures led to widespread redundancies.
- A cost-cut programme was implemented across the board.
American English
- The cost-cutting initiative saved the firm millions.
- They announced a new cost-cut strategy to investors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board decided to cost-cut by 15% across all departments.
Academic
The study analysed the long-term effects when public institutions are forced to cost-cut.
Everyday
We're trying to cost-cut by cancelling some subscriptions.
Technical
The software helps managers model different scenarios to cost-cut efficiently.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cost-cut”
- Using as a noun without article ('Management announced cost-cut') -> 'a cost-cut' or 'cost-cutting'.
- Confusing 'cost-cut' (action) with 'cost-effective' (result).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a verb and adjective, 'cost-cut' and 'cost-cutting' are standard hyphenated forms. The noun phrase can be 'a cost cut' (two words) or 'cost-cutting' (hyphenated).
'Cost-cut' is broader, referring to any reduction in spending. 'Downsize' specifically implies reducing the number of employees, a common method of cost-cutting.
Rarely. It usually implies necessity under financial pressure. Positive outcomes (e.g., efficiency) are described with terms like 'streamline' or 'optimise'.
The past tense and past participle is irregular: 'cost-cut'. Example: 'Last year, they cost-cut by 10%.' 'Cost-cutted' is non-standard and incorrect.
To reduce expenditure, especially in a business or organizational context.
Cost-cut is usually business/formal in register.
Cost-cut: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒstˌkʌt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːstˌkʌt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to cost-cut one's way to profitability”
- “the cost-cutting axe falls”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of scissors (CUT) cutting a price tag (COST) in half.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS A BODY / FINANCES ARE A FLUID: 'Surgically remove fat', 'trim the fat', 'stem the bleeding (of cash)', 'tighten the purse strings'.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is closest in meaning to 'to cost-cut'?