underbred

American  

[uhn-der-bred] / ˌʌn dərˈbrɛd /

adjective

1. having inferior breeding or manners; vulgar.

2. not of pure breed, as a horse.

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underbred British  

/ ˌʌndəˈbrɛd /

adjective

1. of impure stock; not thoroughbred

2. a less common word for ill-bred

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Other Word Forms

• underbreeding noun

Etymology

Origin of underbred

First recorded in 1640–50; under- + bred

Example Sentences

“It is underbred, not only in the obvious sense, but in the literary sense.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

I had been the subject of a rudeness to-day, at the table-d'h�te, which, in my little knowledge of the world, I attributed to the underbred habits of a coarse school of manners.

From Sir Jasper Carew His Life and Experience by Lever, Charles James

We may surely recognise the folly and underbred parade of Mr. John Thorpe in Mr. Tom Musgrave’s speech. 

From Rustic Sounds and Other Studies in Literature and Natural History by Darwin, Francis, Sir

It is the tone of the average adult whenever he enters into conversation with any acquaintance under twelve—an underbred or quite uncalled-for tone of badinage, of quizzing, of insincerity.

From Literature in the Elementary School by MacClintock, Porter Lander

Vulgarity alone was criminal; and the sins of the underbred admitted of no palliation.

From The Daltons, Volume I (of II) Or,Three Roads In Life by Lever, Charles James