undertone

noun

un·​der·​tone ˈən-dər-ˌtōn 

1

: a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound

She commented in an undertone that the music was not very good.

2

: a quality (as of emotion) that is present but not clear or obvious

The play is a comedy with dark undertones.

—often used with of

There was an undertone of fear in the city.

3

: a subdued color

specifically : a color seen through and modifying another color

a shade of blue with gray undertones

4

: a secondary or underlying flavor or scent

coffee with undertones of chocolate

Examples of undertone in a Sentence

She commented in an undertone that the music was really not very good.

The play is a comedy with dark undertones.

The fabric is a rich brown color with undertones of red.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their appetizer, the Japanese Cold Noodle, was sweet and frosty, with pleasant umami undertones; the main, the Cold Pizza, tasted unnervingly like its namesake, a heady mix of tequila, tomato, and basil. —Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025

Her dark brown hair with red undertones was styled by Pete Burkill, with a middle part and wisps of hair to frame the actress’ face. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025

Merlot Dark reds always trend in the colder months, but Lin says burgundy with brown and black undertones will be a particularly popular pedicure color this season. —Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 11 Nov. 2025

Elsewhere in the book, Sioux recalls that several of her solos under Miller’s tutelage, even before the show started filming, had racial undertones to them. —Tanisha Bhat, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undertone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

undertone

noun

un·​der·​tone ˈən-dər-ˌtōn 

1

: a low or quiet tone

2

: a faint color as seen through and changing another color