cutting-edge
KUT-ing EJ
/ˌkʌt.ɪŋ ˈedʒ/
At the latest or most advanced stage of development; innovative or pioneering.
Highly positive and often used in marketing to sound exciting and new.
The story behind the word. This is a metaphor from a knife or tool. The 'cutting edge' is the part that does the work and leads the way into the material.
Word relationships
- state-of-the-art: State-of-the-art is more technical; cutting-edge is more descriptive and exciting.
- obsolete: No longer used or useful.
Commonly confused with
- bleeding-edge: Bleeding-edge is so new that it might be unreliable or dangerous to use.
Collocations
- cutting-edge research
- cutting-edge design
- cutting-edge technology
Idioms & expressions
- the state of the art
- the leading edge
Example sentences
- "The laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge technology for genetic research." Technology
- "The designer is known for her cutting-edge approach to sustainable materials." Fashion
Memory hook
The 'Edge' that 'Cuts' through the old ways. Sharp and new.
When not to use
Avoid in very formal academic papers; 'state-of-the-art' or 'advanced' is often preferred.
Fun facts
- The term 'leading edge' is the aerodynamic equivalent, referring to the front part of a wing.
Related words
Explore more words
avant-garde, pioneer, disruptive, vanguard, trailblazer, probing
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