undercurrent

noun

un·​der·​cur·​rent ˈən-dər-ˌkər-ənt 

-ˌkə-rənt

1

: a current below the upper currents or surface

2

: a hidden opinion, feeling, or tendency often contrary to the one publicly shown

All of us, of course, are well aware that there is a strong undercurrent in our industrial societies of … anti-economic growth attitudes.

—Patrick E. Haggerty

undercurrent adjective

Examples of undercurrent in a Sentence

You could be pulled under water by the dangerous undercurrents.

Recent Examples on the Web

Biggs Jones watched from farther up the beach as the waves grew and then, as an undercurrent ripped the two men out into open water in an instant. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026

Tradwifery carries an undercurrent of trolling—a middle finger raised at anyone antagonized by women boasting about catering to their husband’s every whim. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026

The officiating tension became one of the defining undercurrents of Game 2. —Devon Henderson, New York Times, 9 May 2026

However, insiders are now saying that there’s always been an undercurrent of competition between the two. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undercurrent

• countercurrent
• intercurrent
• overcurrent
• photocurrent
• concurrent
• decurrent
• noncurrent
• recurrent
• current

Kids Definition

undercurrent

noun

un·​der·​cur·​rent -ˌkər-ənt 

-ˌkə-rənt

1

: a current below the upper currents or surface

undercurrents of water

2

: a hidden current of opinion or feeling often different from the one openly shown