clear-cut

1 of 3

adjective

ˈklir-ˈkət 

1

: sharply outlined : distinct

2

: free from ambiguity or uncertainty : unambiguous

a clear-cut decision

clear-cut

2 of 3

noun

ˈklir-ˌkət 

: an area of forest in which all the trees have been cut down

But the logging has been concentrated in the high-volume old-growth forest, and clear-cuts are spread over almost every one of the region's watersheds.

—Catherine Caufield

also : clear-cutting

clear-cut

3 of 3

verb

ˈklir-ˌkət 

clear-cut; clear-cutting

transitive verb

: to cut down all the trees in (an area of forest)

He says there has been a massive deforestation as the Chinese have clear-cut millions of acres of Tibetan Forests to sell lumber on the export market …

—Daniel Goleman

… native rain forest experts who harvest plants for traditional healers, make from two to 10 times per hectare the income of a farmer who clear-cuts the forest for planting crops.

—Cathy Sears and Robert Neuwirth

Synonyms

Adjective

• apparent
• bald
• bald-faced
• barefaced
• bright-line
• broad
• clear
• crystal clear
• decided
• distinct
• evident
• lucid
• luculent
• luminous
• manifest
• nonambiguous
• obvious
• open-and-shut
• palpable
• patent
• pellucid
• perspicuous
• plain
• ringing
• straightforward
• transparent
• unambiguous
• unambivalent
• unequivocal
• unmistakable

Examples of clear-cut in a Sentence

Adjective

a clear-cut case of plagiarism that resulted in her immediate dismissal

clear-cut instructions that even an idiot should be able to follow

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But for Ed Blum, the legal activist whose lawsuit against Harvard and UNC ultimately ended collegiate affirmative action practices, the impact of the court decision is not clear-cut. —Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024

The slow reforestation of areas that were clear-cut for industry and agriculture many decades ago is creating new habitat for insects. —Zoya Teirstein, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2024

The Warriors, ostensibly, made two attempts to provide Curry, 36, with a clear-cut No. 2 — someone who can carry the offensive load on nights Curry was off or in moments Curry was resting — this offseason. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024

Plus, Burns said, the regulations and expectations of airlines in the U.S. are fairly clear-cut, even if they’re not always followed perfectly. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1958, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

clear-cut

adjective

ˈkli(ə)r-ˈkət

: free from doubt or uncertainty : definite

a clear-cut victory