underbite

noun

un·​der·​bite ˈən-dər-ˌbīt 

plural underbites

: malocclusion in which the lower jaw and front teeth project beyond the upper front teeth : prognathism involving the lower jaw

Three years ago, Jack, a small Chihuahua mix with an endearing underbite and a lust for attention, was dropped off at the Haven Animal Care Shelter.

—Natalie Gross

… had braces to straighten his own teeth and surgery to correct a severe underbite, ….

—Jean P. Fisher

compare overbite

Examples of underbite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once a reasonable ruler, King Solon (Javier Bardem) is now a speechless blue beast — albeit the cartoon-cute version of a rhinoceros-size creature, sporting an endearing underbite and an easily distractable, dog-like personality. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024

Pippa is tricolor, with long ears, a distant gaze, and an underbite that, Peacock mentioned, Piper didn’t have. —Alexandra Horowitz, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024

Silver carp can grow up to 3 feet in length, have toothless mouths with an underbite and have silver scales everywhere except their heads, which are scale-free. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024

With his thick Southern accent and chin jutted out to a menacing underbite, Charlie seems like an angry bulldog ready to take a bite out of the world. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024

The upper jaws of many of its patients didn’t grow as expected, leaving them with underbites. —Megan Rose, ProPublica, 6 Mar. 2024

Holland’s son, now 13, has only a minor underbite after orthodontics and likely won’t need jaw surgery at all. —Megan Rose, ProPublica, 6 Mar. 2024

The remaining kitty – a fluffy gray shorthair with a hilarious underbite – seemed less interested in Sheeran and more a fan of its food bowl. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024

Rose Parade rain: In the Dec. 27 California section, an article about a storm in the forecast and the possibility of rain on the Rose Parade identified one of the dogs riding on the Pasadena Humane Society’s parade float as a shiba inu with an underbite. —Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

underbite

noun

un·​der·​bite ˈən-dər-ˌbīt 

: malocclusion in which the lower jaw and front teeth project beyond the upper front teeth : prognathism involving the lower jaw

… had braces to straighten his own teeth and surgery to correct a severe underbite, as well as whitening.

—Jean P. Fisher

compare overbite