Underbred

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Lacking good manners, refinement, or proper upbringing; ill-bred or vulgar in behavior and social conduct
2. Showing poor manners and lacking the polish associated with good upbringing
3. Exhibiting behavior that is coarse, unrefined, or socially unacceptable

Etymology: "Underbred" is formed simply from the prefix "under-" and the adjective "bred," the past participle of "breed." "Bred" in this sense refers to upbringing and lineage: a person who is well bred has been raised with good manners and proper social conduct, so one who is underbred falls short of that standard. The prefix "under-" contributes the idea of insufficiency, as in "undercooked" or "underpaid," so the combined sense is of someone who has received less than the proper cultivation. The meaning therefore rests on an older English notion that manners were something a person was bred into, much as a horse or dog might be bred for qualities of temperament. The word describes behavior that looks as though the person was raised without the refinements expected of their class or station, which is why it applies to coarse speech or conduct rather than to a physical trait.

Synonyms: ill-bred

Antonyms: well-bred