clean-cut

[ kleen-kuht ]

adjective

1. having distinct, regular shape:

   a face with clean-cut features.

2. clearly outlined.
3. neat and wholesome:

   a polite, clean-cut young man.

4. unambiguously clear; unmistakable; clear-cut:

   The case against him is a clean-cut one.

clean-cut

adjective

1. clearly outlined; neat

   clean-cut lines of a ship

2. definite

   a clean-cut decision in boxing

Word History and Origins

Origin of clean-cut¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

On top of that, the proposal also makes it clear that the Trump campaign’s promise to broadly shut down immigration won’t be so clean-cut.

From Salon

"There's a stigma to it. When people think of firefighters they think of some clean-cut guy, a hero, not someone who's been locked up," he said.

From BBC

Him: Married young, clean-cut professional, impeccable dresser, no TV watching, a generous philanthropist, up at 5 a.m. to work out daily.

From Los Angeles Times

He was cute and had a nice profile depicting a clean-cut, slightly geeky guy.

From Los Angeles Times

He had a nice profile that depicted a clean-cut, slightly geeky guy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chiseled