underbelly

American  

[uhn-der-bel-ee] / ˈʌn dərˌbɛl i /

noun

plural

underbellies

1. the lower abdomen; posterior ventral area, as of an animal's body.

2. the lower surface of an object; underside.

   the underbelly of an airplane.

3. a vulnerable area; weak point.

   an attack on the soft underbelly of Europe.

4. a dark, seamy, often hidden area or side.

   a police officer continually exposed to the underbelly of society.

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underbelly British  

/ ˈʌndəˌbɛlɪ /

noun

1. the part of an animal's belly nearest to the ground

2. a vulnerable or unprotected part, aspect, or region

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Etymology

Origin of underbelly

First recorded in 1600–10; under- + belly

Example Sentences

And while Congress, Europe and law may hold no terrors for our president, we all know ridicule hits him in his soft, white underbelly.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

But researchers now have what they believe to be the most complete, detailed map of that underbelly ever made.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

In “Gotham at War,” Mr. Wallace takes us on a fascinating excursion into both the now lost yet somehow familiar human superstructure, and the sometimes sordid underbelly, of the city we know today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

The rest tackle the seedy underbelly of fame.

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2025

That’s what you see, Mariam jo, he had said, the dark in their underbelly.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• basement
• bed
• floor
• ground
• seat
• underside