deep cut

noun

plural deep cuts
1
music : a song that is considerably less popular and well-known than other songs on the same album or by the same artist
From there, the band careened through highlights and the occasional deep cut from its catalog …Mikael Wood
But the rocker saw an opportunity to turn casual fans on to his deep cuts—so each disc intersperses hits with lesser-known album tracks in non-chronological order.David Browne
2
: something (such as an obscure reference to a book or movie) that is recognizable to devotees but not usually to others
One of the fun things about being a Marvel fan is the franchise's ability to constantly surprise its audience with comic book deep cuts, surprising castings, and twists that no one sees coming.Alexis Nedd
deep-cut adjective
a deep-cut reference/joke

Examples of deep cut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The clip saw viral fame online several years ago, leading to the continued success of the Reputation deep cut. Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 31 May 2025 Many of the agencies targeted for deep cuts, including the Social Security Administration and the National Parks Service, are those that poll the highest according to Pew, and most Americans bear those workers no ill will. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025 The Trump administration's 2026 budget request, issued earlier this month, calls for very deep cuts to the NASA budget, hitting science particularly hard. Andrew Jones, Space.com, 30 May 2025 For example, the Discover Weekly playlist is a cool, weekly mixtape of new music and deep cuts catered to your listening preferences. PC Magazine, 24 May 2025 The House Freedom Caucus have pushed deep cuts to Medicaid to support the legislation. Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 21 May 2025 The deadly storms struck as NOAA is scrambling to fill crucial forecasting jobs around the country after the Trump administration made deep cuts at the National Weather Service. Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 May 2025 President Trump headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to push squabbling Republican members of Congress in person to set aside differences and pass his sprawling budget bill including deep cuts in spending and taxes. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025 His new budget featured eye-popping increases for the Pentagon alongside deep cuts for social safety net programs. Ron Elving, NPR, 17 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deep cut was in 1993

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Cite this Entry

“Deep cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deep%20cut. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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