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.

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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

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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”; see under-, cut

Example Sentences

Though she acknowledged she mishandled both caught-on-tape situations and said she apologized to the staffer, the videos hindered her early momentum and have undercut her efforts to make inroads with potential allies in the race.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Note that these happened as the price undercut the secular 200-month simple moving average.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Last year the Society of Maritime Industries told MPs that a combination of better state support, tax breaks and lower labour costs typically allowed overseas shipyards to undercut UK yards by 10-20%.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

The extravagant gesture of its shape is undercut by its refusal to give us any great room, any place of gregarious gathering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Even the “ah” that Klotz inserts between the two halves of his sentence serves to undercut the importance of what he is saying.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• destabilize
• diminish
• lessen
• thwart
• undermine