un·der·cut
ˌən-dər-ˈkət 
undercut; undercutting
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
: to perform the action of cutting away beneath
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
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Since late 2023, Polish farmers and truckers have staged recurring blockades, accusing their Ukrainian counterparts of undercutting prices and crowding them out in the domestic market.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Luke Smith, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Think snapbacks, undercuts, chains, and jerseys, usually worn by cringey white lesbians posturing for the camera.
—Quispe López, Them, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undercut
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Verb
The recent firing of the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is just the latest in a string of blows for the nation’s top disaster-response agency, which has been repeatedly undercut by the Trump administration’s efforts to rein in spending and restructure the federal government.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Since late 2023, Polish farmers and truckers have staged recurring blockades, accusing their Ukrainian counterparts of undercutting prices and crowding them out in the domestic market.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
The five-second penalty setback hurt Norris by denying him the chance to get the undercut on Russell at the first pit stops.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Think snapbacks, undercuts, chains, and jerseys, usually worn by cringey white lesbians posturing for the camera.
—Quispe López, Them, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undercut
Cite this Entry
“Undercut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undercut. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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