cord-cutting

noun

cord-cut·​ting ˈkȯrd-ˌkə-tiŋ 

variants or less commonly cord cutting

: the act or process of canceling a subscription to cable television or to a landline telephone service

As cable news begins to feel the squeeze from cord-cutting, arch-rivals Fox News and CNN are stepping up efforts to adapt to the trend that poses a long-term threat to their businesses.

—Stephen Battaglio

Although broadband rates don't appear to be rising substantially as a whole, there's a chance that cord cutting could someday lead providers to increase monthly Internet bills to mitigate the loss of cable customers, according to a MoffettNathanson report.

—Makeda Easter

The majority of Americans … now rely solely on wireless telephones. That watershed cord-cutting moment was reached in the last half of 2016, according to the federal government.

—Jan Cottingham

Examples of cord-cutting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As cord-cutting has continued to erode ESPN subscriber numbers, execs made the call to bring the full ESPN offering into direct-to-consumer streaming. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2024

Strong league deals like the NBA’s 11-year, $75.9 billion package bode well for rights for other leagues expected to be up for bidding in years beyond 2025, but the fragmentation of how fans watch sports and cable cord-cutting suggest some caution is in order. —Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 2 Dec. 2024

But it’s widely expected the spinoff company will need to find a dance partner to make it through the world of cord-cutting. —Matt Egan, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024

Rampant cord-cutting has roiled the television business and linear cable channels — once a mighty draw for couch-potato viewing — have become endangered species. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above