A cutaway (shot) is a brief shot that interrupts the action by briefly inserting another related action, object, or person, followed by a cutback to the original shot (or a slightly different shot showing the same subject, object, or scene).

Cutaways show action not covered by the master shot. Cutaways are often used in a sequence to hide discontinuity, to emphasize something, or to show simultaneous events. However, cutaways may also serve purely aesthetic aims. Reaction shots are also usually cutaways.