What does “undermines” mean in English?

The word “undermine” comes from old wars. Soldiers dug tunnels under enemy walls until they fell. That literal meaning still works — you can undermine a cliff — but the far more common use is about trust, authority, or systems. When something is undermined, it isn’t smashed in one moment. It’s weakened quietly, from inside, over time. You’ll see this word a lot in serious news writing.

In the clip, an adviser to the Somalian Sports Ministry speaks about referee Omar Artan being refused entry to the US: “Denying him entry not only harms him personally, but it also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.” He means this decision slowly damages people’s belief that football treats everyone the same — not in one big moment, but by making that trust a little weaker. Two more examples: “The scandal undermined the minister’s authority.” “Constant criticism can undermine a child’s confidence.” Register: formal to neutral. Common in news, speeches, and written reports — but natural in serious conversation too.