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.
Ogilvie, a man in his 40s, was hospitalized with deep cuts to his head, face and back. ABC News, 10 June 2026 But today, in the midst of another growing Ebola outbreak, deep cuts to the CDC workforce mean that the agency may no longer have sufficient personnel to deploy at the same capacity if needed. Candice Johnson, The Conversation, 10 June 2026 County leaders had proposed revenue increases and requested deep cuts, particularly within the county’s Health and Human Services Agency. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026 This program focuses on a 3,000-year-old cold case involving a skeleton found in Japan covered in unusually deep cut marks that resemble the wounds from a samurai sword attack or shark bites. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 The Cure played their first show in 18 months Friday at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, where the band performed a handful of deep cuts live for the first time in years. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2026 The two-night event pairs a live band, vocalist and full orchestra performing both Swift’s hits and deep cuts, with tickets ranging from $80 to $135. Ian Cummings, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026 Upstairs, a disco deep cut plays while Byrd flits about greeting everyone. Mike Albo, Vulture, 2 June 2026 For the skin, don’t apply it on acne-prone skin or to deep cuts or fresh burns. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

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 16 Jun. 2026.

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