Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible: Having a sharp, well-defined outline or form that is easily seen or understood.
   • Neat and smart in appearance: Having a tidy, well-groomed, and respectable look, often suggesting conventional good looks and propriety.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Clear and distinct):

  • The spire was clean-cut against the blue sky. (The outline of the spire was sharp and distinct against the sky.)
  • The detective found a clean-cut footprint in the soft soil. (The footprint had a very clear and well-defined shape.)

• Adjective (Neat and smart in appearance):

  • He was a clean-cut young man in a suit and tie. (He had a tidy, well-groomed, and respectable appearance.)
  • The company prefers to hire clean-cut individuals for client-facing roles. (The company prefers employees who look neat and professional.)

Advanced Usage

• "clean-cut image": A public or personal reputation of being neat, respectable, and morally upright.
  • The politician cultivated a clean-cut image to appeal to conservative voters.
• "clean-cut distinction": A very clear and unambiguous difference or separation.
  • There is a clean-cut distinction between the two legal concepts.

Variants and Related Words

• Clear-cut (adj): Unambiguous; definite; not open to doubt. (Note: Often used interchangeably with 'clean-cut' for the "clear and distinct" meaning, but 'clear-cut' is more common for abstract concepts like decisions or differences.)
  • It was a clear-cut case of fraud.
• Well-groomed (adj): Neat and tidy in appearance.
  • The ambassador was always well-groomed.

Synonyms

• For "clear and distinct": Sharp, crisp, well-defined, clear.
• For "neat in appearance": Tidy, trim, smart, well-groomed, dapper.

Related Phrases

• Clean-shaven: Having no beard or mustache; with the hair on the face shaved off. (This is a common physical trait associated with the "neat appearance" meaning of 'clean-cut'.)
  • The military requires recruits to be clean-shaven.

Related Idioms

• (As) clean-cut as they come: Used to emphasize that someone is extremely neat, respectable, and conventional in appearance and behavior.
  • He's a clean-cut as they come—never a hair out of place.

Adjective

1. clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible
   • as clear as a whistle
   • clear footprints in the snow
   • the letter brought back a clear image of his grandfather
   • a spire clean-cut against the sky
   • a clear-cut pattern
2. neat and smart in appearance
   • a clean-cut and well-bred young man
   • the trig corporal in his jaunty cap
   • a trim beard