noun
underbelly
UHN-duh-behl-ee
Underbelly (noun) means the underside of an animal's body. Example: “The shark's underbelly is much paler than its back.”
noun
1
The underside of an animal's body.
"We identified the species of the snake by its blue-grey underbelly."
"A jolt told me that the Nautilus had bumped the underbelly of the Ice Bank, still quite thick to judge from the hollowness of the accompanying noise."
— Jules Verne (1993)
"The shark's underbelly is much paler than its back."
2
The hidden, often unpleasant or corrupt side of something.
"The novel exposes the criminal underbelly of the city."
How to use underbelly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally the underside of a body, but often used figuratively for a hidden, seedy side of a place or situation.
Common pairings
criminal underbelly
seedy underbelly
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Word forms
- Plural
- underbellies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shark's _____ is much paler than its back.
Etymology
From under- + belly.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for underbelly
See all rhymes for underbelly →Frequently asked questions
What does “underbelly” mean?
The word “underbelly” means the underside of an animal's body. In plain terms, literally the underside of a body, but often used figuratively for a hidden, seedy side of a place or situation.
How do you pronounce “underbelly”?
“Underbelly” is pronounced UHN-duh-behl-ee (/ˈʌn.dɚˌbɛl.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “underbelly” in a sentence?
Here is “underbelly” used in a sentence: “The shark's underbelly is much paler than its back.”
What part of speech is “underbelly”?
“Underbelly” is a noun.
How many meanings does “underbelly” have?
“Underbelly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the underside of an animal's body.
