underside

noun

un·​der·​side ˈən-dər-ˌsīd How to pronounce underside (audio)
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
Synonyms of undersidenext
1
: the side or surface lying underneath
2
: a side usually hidden from sight
specifically : the more unpleasant or reprehensible side
the underside of politics

Synonyms of underside

Examples of underside in a Sentence

the underside of the table The book explores the underside of human nature.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fur on the rest of the body is dark to light brown above, with lighter fur on the underside. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 To achieve their audacious goals, the fish use hook-like growths on the undersides of both their pectoral and pelvic fins to push themselves upward. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026 Instead, females appear with golden-green coloring with a white underside, according to All About Birds. Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 2 Apr. 2026 Leaves, Gupta said, are a tree’s air-conditioning system, or, through the stomata on their underside, its breathing and sweating mechanism. Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underside

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underside was in 1660

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Cite this Entry

“Underside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underside. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

underside

noun
un·​der·​side ˈən-dər-ˌsīd How to pronounce underside (audio)
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
: the side or part lying underneath

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