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
Natalie Gross… had braces to straighten his own teeth and surgery to correct a severe underbite, ….—Jean P. Fisher
compare overbite
Jean P. FisherExamples of underbite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His co-star, Hannah Stocking (who has 75 million social media followers), is already in costume—rocking a massive chin with a bulldog underbite to match Waheed’s cartoonish woodpecker profile.
—Steven Bertoni, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
His teeth shifted in his mouth, creating an underbite.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
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
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Steven Bertoni, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
His teeth shifted in his mouth, creating an underbite.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Underbite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underbite. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Jean P. FisherLove words? Need even more definitions?
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