English Reference
Idiom idiom

cutting edge


The forefront, or position of greatest advancement in some field.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

This phone uses cutting edge technology.

CONTEXTUAL

The research lab is at the cutting edge of cancer treatment.

COMPLEX

Her groundbreaking work placed the small university at the cutting edge of renewable energy research.


Related idioms6entries
  1. 01

    bleeding edge

    Something too new and untested to be reliable or to have any assurance of safety; the figurative place where such things exist.

  2. 02

    edge of the earth

    A very remote place.

  3. 03

    edge of the world

    A very remote place.

  4. 04

    edge out

    To defeat in a contest or a game by a narrow margin of victory.

  5. 05

    live on the edge

    To have an adventurous or perilous lifestyle; to behave in a manner which creates risks for oneself.

  6. 06

    rough around the edges

    In need of refinement; unsophisticated.

Last updated August 10, 2026