cut-off time

/ˈkʌt ɒf taɪm/
final deadline

The payment must be made before the cut-off time to avoid late fees.

This means the last possible moment to submit payment without penalties.


Business
formal

The latest time or date by which something must be completed or submitted to be valid or accepted.

The bank's cut-off time for wire transfers is 3 PM on weekdays.

After this time, transfers will be processed the next business day.

Common in financial, logistical, and service industries.

Technology
technical

The deadline after which no further changes or submissions are allowed in a system or process.

The system has a cut-off time for updates to prevent conflicts during peak hours.

This ensures stability by restricting changes to off-peak times.

Used in software development, IT operations, and automated workflows.

Collocations

miss the cut-off timefail to meet the deadlineextend the cut-off timepostpone the deadline

Related Phrases

cut-off datephrase
the final date by which something must be completed

Pro Tip

Precision Matters

Always confirm the exact cut-off time, including time zones, to avoid missed deadlines.

Gold Rule

Strict Adherence

Cut-off times are typically non-negotiable; late submissions may be rejected outright.

Word Origin

Derived from the verb 'cut off' (to terminate or exclude) combined with 'time' (a specific moment).

Usage Notes

Often used in contexts where strict adherence to timing is critical, such as financial transactions, event registrations, or system updates.

Word Breakdown

cut-off
the act of terminating or excluding
phrase
+
time
a specific moment or period
word
English Dictionary