cutback
B2Business, Economics, Journalism, Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A reduction or decrease in something, especially in spending or production.
A reduction in amount, size, or scope, often as a cost-saving measure; also, in film editing, a shot that returns to an earlier part of a scene or narrative.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a countable noun. Often implies a negative or undesirable action forced by circumstances (e.g., financial pressure, need for efficiency). In film editing, it's a technical term for a specific narrative device.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. The word is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a negative connotation of austerity, loss, or retrenchment.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American business media, but widely used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N cutback in N (a cutback in funding)N cutback on N (a cutback on staff)V (austerity) forced cutbacksVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “face the cutbacks”
- “the axe falls (idiom implying cutbacks)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company announced a 20% cutback in its workforce to remain competitive.
Academic
The study analysed the socio-economic impact of public service cutbacks following the recession.
Everyday
We've had to make some cutbacks in our household budget this year.
Technical
The editor used a cutback to show the character's reaction to the previous event.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council was forced to cut back on library services.
- We need to cut back our spending on entertainment.
American English
- The company will cut back production at its Ohio plant.
- He decided to cut back on coffee for health reasons.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). The adjectival form is typically 'cut-back' as a modifier (e.g., cut-back services).
American English
- N/A (not standard). The adjectival form is typically 'cut-back' as a modifier (e.g., a cut-back schedule).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The school made a cutback in art classes.
- Our family did a cutback on holiday spending.
- Due to the crisis, the factory announced cutbacks in production.
- The new policy led to significant cutbacks in public transport.
- The government's drastic cutbacks in healthcare funding provoked widespread protest.
- After the merger, management implemented sweeping cutbacks to reduce duplication.
- The film's narrative cohesion suffered from jarring cutbacks that disrupted the temporal flow.
- Analysts argue that the short-term savings from austerity cutbacks are outweighed by long-term social costs.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CUTting BACK a plant to make it smaller. A CUTBACK is making something (like a budget) smaller.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCE/QUANTITY IS A PHYSICAL SUBSTANCE (that can be cut). PROGRESS IS A JOURNEY (cutting back is moving backwards on that journey).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'отступление' (retreat) или 'возврат' (return/refund). Основной перевод — 'сокращение', 'урезание'.
- В контексте кино 'cutback' — это специфический монтажный приём ('возвратный кадр'), а не просто 'вырезать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'There was a lot of cutback' - INCORRECT; '...a lot of cutbacks' or '...a major cutback' - CORRECT).
- Confusing 'cutback' (n.) with the phrasal verb 'cut back' (v.).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cutback' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning 'a reduction', it is one word: 'cutback'. The related phrasal verb is two words: 'cut back'.
'Cut' is a general term for a reduction. 'Cutback' implies a more systematic, often strategic or forced, reduction across an area (like spending or staff), and is almost always used in negative contexts of loss.
Rarely. It inherently suggests something is being taken away or diminished. A positive reduction might be described as 'streamlining', 'saving', or 'efficiency gain'.
The plural is 'cutbacks'. It is a countable noun (e.g., 'They made several cutbacks').
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