WordGarden.ioundercut
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈəndərˌkət/
Meanings
Verb
to sell or offer something more cheaply than a competitor
to weaken, reduce, or make something less effective
to cut away material beneath something or along its lower edge
Noun
a hairstyle with closely cut sides or back and longer hair on top
Beyond the definition
Imagine two bakers competing for customers. If one baker undercuts the other, they sell their cakes at a lower price to attract more buyers. But "undercut" is not just about prices. It can also mean to harm someone's efforts or position in a quiet way, like a rival trying to hurt your chances of getting a promotion. The idea is often that something is being weakened from below. A carpenter might undercut a doorframe so new flooring can slide under it, and a dishonest coworker might undercut you by spreading rumors about your work to the boss.
To undercut someone or something means to weaken their position, efforts, or success—often subtly and sometimes unfairly. It has several distinct uses, all revolving around the idea of diminishing strength or stability from below the surface.
The most common use is in a business context: to offer goods or services at a lower price than a competitor. "Our competitor undercut us on the bid for the contract," means they offered a cheaper price and won the deal. While this can be a legitimate market tactic, it sometimes implies predatory or unfair pricing practices intended to drive others out of business.
However, undercut also has a frequent figurative meaning: to undermine someone's authority, influence, or credibility through indirect actions. "He felt his colleague was trying to undercut him with the boss," suggests that the colleague was subtly sabotaging his reputation or chances for advancement. This can involve spreading rumors, taking credit for another's work, or making a peer look incompetent in front of others.
Finally, undercut can be a literal action—physically weakening or removing material from the bottom of an object. In construction, a carpenter might undercut the bottom of a doorframe (the jamb) so that new tile or wood flooring can slide neatly beneath it.
Whether you're talking about pricing strategies, professional rivalries, or physical craftsmanship, to undercut is to diminish strength or value, often through subtle means, leaving the subject vulnerable or at a disadvantage.
Examples
- 1
Price competition
Budget airlines often undercut the larger carriers on price.
- Patternundercut someone on price
charge less than them
- 2
Insincere apology
His apology was undercut by the smile on his face.
- Patternbe undercut by + action/detail
be weakened by it
- 3
Workplace authority
If you ignore the team lead's decision in front of everyone, you undercut her authority.
- Patternundercut someone's authority
make other people respect or trust them less
- 4
Evidence against claim
The new figures undercut the government's claim that inflation was falling.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Personal confidence
Years of being laughed at had undercut his confidence.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- undercut an argument
- undercut confidence
- undercut authority
- undercut credibility
Word family
Explore
- damage control
- loss of confidence
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- undercutnounverb
Forms
- undercutting-ing formverbnoun
- undercutspluralnounverb