Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely modern and advanced; at the forefront of progress or innovation: "cutting-edge" describes something that incorporates the very latest developments, techniques, or ideas in a particular field.
   • Stylishly modern; very fashionable: In a more general sense, it can describe something that is the most current and fashionable in style or design.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company invests heavily in cutting-edge research. (The company invests heavily in the most advanced and pioneering research.)
  • This smartphone features cutting-edge camera technology. (This smartphone features the most modern and sophisticated camera technology.)
  • The designer is known for her cutting-edge fashion collections. (The designer is known for her extremely modern and trend-setting fashion collections.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be at the cutting edge of (something)": to be involved in the most advanced or important developments in a particular area.
  • Our laboratory is at the cutting edge of genetic engineering. (Our laboratory is leading the most advanced developments in genetic engineering.)
• "cutting-edge work/design/thinking": work, design, or thinking that is pioneering and highly innovative.
  • The conference will showcase cutting-edge thinking in artificial intelligence. (The conference will showcase the most pioneering and advanced ideas in artificial intelligence.)

Variants and Related Words

• The cutting edge (noun phrase): the forefront or most advanced position in a field.
  • This discovery puts our team on the cutting edge of medical science. (This discovery puts our team at the forefront of medical science.)
• Cutting-edge can be hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun (e.g., cutting-edge software) and is often written without a hyphen when used after a verb (e.g., The software is cutting edge).

Synonyms

• State-of-the-art: the highest level of development at a particular time.
• Pioneering: involving new ideas or methods.
• Innovative: featuring new methods; advanced and original.
• Advanced: highly developed or complex.

Antonyms

• Outdated: no longer current or useful; obsolete.
• Obsolete: no longer produced or used; out of date.
• Old-fashioned: not modern; belonging to or typical of a time in the past.

Adjective

1. in accord with the most fashionable ideas or style
   • wears only the latest style
   • the last thing in swimwear
   • cutting-edge technology
   • a with-it boutique