understeer

noun

un·​der·​steer ˈən-dər-ˌstir How to pronounce understeer (audio)
: the tendency of an automobile to turn less sharply than the driver intends
understeer intransitive verb

Examples of understeer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This one-day, two-night, ladies-only program teaches everything from skid recoveries, to correcting understeer and oversteer, to braking techniques, all with the aim of building confidence to drive on snow and ice. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025 A little bit of understeer mid-corner and struggling to rotate the car on the slow speed. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025 Red Bull remain plagued by the same balance problems that surfaced mid-season last year, which make the car difficult to driver on corner entry and prone to mid-corner understeer. Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Red Bull struggled to find the right balance, failing to address the mid-corner, slow-speed understeer that affected the car without creating oversteer in faster corners. Dan Cancian, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for understeer

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of understeer was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Understeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understeer. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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