1. the underside or bottom part of an animal’s body
2. the hidden, often corrupt or unpleasant aspects of something
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The fish showed their pale underbellies as they swam near the surface.
• The documentary exposed the underbellies of several major corporations.
• Sharks have distinctive white underbellies that help them blend with the sky when viewed from below.
• The journalist investigated the underbellies of the city’s political machine.
• The bird’s underbellies were marked with dark spots.
• The book reveals the underbellies of the entertainment industry.