undercut

1 of 2

verb

un·​der·​cut ˌən-dər-ˈkət 

undercut; undercutting

transitive verb

1

: to cut away the underpart of

undercut a vein of ore

2

: to cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief

3

: to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than (a competitor)

4

: to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall

5

: to strike (a ball) with a downward glancing blow so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot

6

: to undermine or destroy the force, value, or effectiveness of

inflation undercuts consumer buying power

intransitive verb

: to perform the action of cutting away beneath

undercut

2 of 2

noun

un·​der·​cut ˈən-dər-ˌkət 

1

British : tenderloin sense 1

2

: the action or result of cutting away from the underside or lower part of something

3

: a notch cut in the base of a tree before felling to determine the direction of falling and to prevent splitting

Examples of undercut in a Sentence

Verb

They undercut the competing store by 10 percent.

a law that undercuts the Constitution

Her behavior undercuts her own credibility.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Banks figuring out how to safely serve those people profitably—or teach them how to build their credit—would undercut many of those business models. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024

The two issues are inextricably linked, as Newsom and his legislative allies have recently passed a package of anti-theft bills to undercut the purpose of Proposition 36, perhaps the most prominent statewide voter initiative on the Nov. 5 ballot. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024

Noun

There are many different types of taste buds, but all have stalks and papilla that round out with undercuts under the stalks, similar to the shape of a mushroom, explains Dr. Fraundorf. —Daley Quinn, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2024

This dramatic style features an ultra-short undercut on one side, while letting the other side skim long down the face. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

undercut

1 of 2 verb

un·​der·​cut ˌən-dər-ˈkət 

undercut; undercutting

1

: to cut away the underpart of something or material beneath something

2

: to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than

undercut a competitor

3

: to strike so as to give a backspin or height to the shot

a tennis player undercutting the ball

undercut

2 of 2 noun

un·​der·​cut ˈən-dər-ˌkət 

: the action or result of undercutting

Medical Definition

undercut

noun

un·​der·​cut ˈən-dər-ˌkət 

: the part of a tooth lying between the gum and the points of maximum outward bulge on the tooth's surfaces