undercut

American  

[uhn-der-kuht, uhn-der-kuht, uhn-der-kuht] / ˌʌn dərˈkʌt, ˈʌn dərˌkʌt, ˈʌn dərˌkʌt /

verb (used with object)

undercut, undercutting

1. to cut under or beneath.

2. to cut away material from so as to leave a portion overhanging, as in carving or sculpture.

3. to offer goods or services at a lower price or rate than (a competing price or rate) or than that of (a competitor).

4. to weaken or destroy the impact or effectiveness of; undermine.

5. Golf. to hit (the ball) so as to cause a backspin.

6. Tennis. to slice (the ball) using an underhand motion.

7. to cut (a sound recording) with grooves too shallow or with insufficient lateral motion of the stylus.

8. Forestry. to cut a notch in (a tree) in order to control the direction in which the tree is to fall.

---

verb (used without object)

undercut, undercutting

1. to undercut material, a competitor, a ball, etc.

noun

1. a cut or a cutting away underneath.

2. a notch cut in a tree to determine the direction in which the tree is to fall and to prevent splitting.

3. a haircut for men or women in which one or both sides and often the back are shaved or cut very short, leaving longer hair at the top of the head.

   an undercut with a side part.

4. Golf. a backspin.

5. Tennis. a slice or cut made with an underhand motion.

6. Chiefly British. a tenderloin of beef including the fillet.

7. Dentistry. a tooth cavity prepared with a wide base for anchoring a filling securely.

adjective

1. having or resulting from an undercut.

undercut British  

verb

1. to charge less than (a competitor) in order to obtain trade

2. to cut away the under part of (something)

3. sport to hit (a ball) in such a way as to impart backspin

---

noun

1. the act or an instance of cutting underneath

2. a part that is cut away underneath

3. a tenderloin of beef, including the fillet

4. forestry a notch cut in a tree trunk, to ensure a clean break in felling

5. sport a stroke that imparts backspin to the ball

Etymology

Origin of undercut

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English undercutten “to cut down”; under-, cut

Example Sentences

While Lime has arguably been perceived by some in the past as relatively expensive, the new subscription appears to try to undercut the cost of single journeys using buses and other forms of public transport.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

In many places she chooses to undercut the image of the lone genius, sovereign over his book-lined study and carefully marshaled pens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

It is rare in its group because it never undercut its 200 day simple moving average, and is trading right at its 21 day exponential moving average, which signals strong momentum.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

His fierce criticism of illegal immigration — Chavez argued that they undercut his unionization efforts — put him at odds with immigration activists.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Other smugglers undercut Los Osos’s business in the 1990s by using different spots to cross migrants along the river.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Related Words

• destabilize
• diminish
• lessen
• thwart
• undermine