undertone

American  

[uhn-der-tohn] / ˈʌn dərˌtoʊn /

noun

• undertones
  plural

1. a low or subdued tone.

   to speak in undertones.

2. an unobtrusive or background sound.

   an undertone of static from the receiver.

3. an underlying quality or element; undercurrent.

   There was an undertone of regret in his refusal.

4. a subdued color; a color modified by an underlying color.

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undertone British  

/ ˈʌndəˌtəʊn /

noun

1. a quiet or hushed tone of voice

2. an underlying tone or suggestion in words or actions

   his offer has undertones of dishonesty

3. a pale or subdued colour

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• undertones
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of undertone

First recorded in 1800–10; under- + tone

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Explanation

An undertone is literally a muted tone of voice, but it can also refer to an unspoken, implied meaning or emotion: "I thought there were undertones of hostility in her supposed apology." An undertone is a muted color or sound, like the blue undertones in your new gray wallpaper or the undertones of murmured conversations in a busy restaurant. When someone speaks in an undertone, it means that they whisper or talk very softly. You might tell you sister about your dad's surprise party in an undertone, so he doesn't overhear. These days, the word is most commonly used to refer to a subtle or implied meaning in an utterance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

undertone undertones

The research service Citrini just authored a note sharing that upbeat undertone.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026

In the history of Musk, meanwhile, an odd undertone entered the conversation this week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

This is the human cycle, a tale as old as time that takes on a grim new undertone in a time when matters feel very much life-or-death.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2025

And that adds a particularly tragic undertone to the coming persecution of the capital’s homeless people: Studies show that most homeless people were residents before they lost their homes.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2025

In an undertone she gave some directions to Hannah.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

More pressingly, the undertones and birth of Malfoid mark a distinct change to the direction of this fan fiction.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026

But the idea of then building an Ebola facility just for US citizens on Kenyan territory sparked fear, as well as anger at the colonial undertones.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

Crouse’s father and his partner had a similar habit of writing stories with political undertones, Crouse said, asking audiences, “Who are you when the whistle blows?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026

Stagflationary undertones were present in the ISM services print, however, Fjaerstedt said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

So when Papa finally decided to, after extensive talks with the parish priest and insisting that all pagan undertones be removed from his title-taking ceremony, it was like a mini New Yam festival.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Related Words

• connotation
• overtone
• tinge
• undercurrent

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