Cliffed

Cliffed is an adjective formed from the noun cliff, used in several technical contexts to describe something characterized by or resembling a cliff, or, in compensation language, a vesting structure that includes a cliff period. The term is most commonly encountered in geography, geology, and human resources or corporate finance.

In geographic and geomorphic usage, cliffed describes terrain or coastlines that feature prominent cliffs or steep rock faces. A cliffed coastline has abrupt vertical drops, limited beaches, and high relief, distinguishing it from gentler, sloping shorelines. The word emphasizes the presence of hard, resistant rock and sharp topographic change.

In finance and employment compensation, cliffed refers to vesting schedules that include a cliff period. A cliff vesting arrangement requires an employee to remain with the company for a specified minimum time before any equity or retirement benefits vest. If the cliff is reached, a substantial portion may vest at once or vest on a set schedule thereafter. For example, a four-year cliff typically means no vesting for years one through four, with some portion vesting at year four and the remainder following a regular vesting cadence. This usage is common in startup equity plans and other long-term incentive arrangements.

Etymology traces the term to the literal meaning of a cliff—a vertical or near-vertical face—plus the past participle suffix -ed. In practice, the geographic sense is widely understood, while the financial sense is specialized jargon within compensation and HR discussions.