undercut

1 of 2

verb

un·​der·​cut ˌən-dər-ˈkət 

undercut; undercutting

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to perform the action of cutting away beneath

undercut

2 of 2

noun

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

Verb

In the most glaring example, since the start of the war in Ukraine, China has supplied Russia with semiconductors and other essential technologies that Russia previously imported from the West, undercutting the efficacy of Western export controls. —Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Imports surged from 7 billion euros in 2021 to 13 billion euros the following year, causing gluts and undercutting farmers, particularly in Poland. —Raf Casert, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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