Undignified means lacking dignity or appearing foolish and embarrassing in a way that makes people lose respect for you. When someone acts in an undignified manner, they behave in ways that seem beneath them or inappropriate for the situation.

Picture a serious principal slipping on a banana peel in front of the whole school assembly, then getting up and yelling angrily about who left it there. The slip itself was just an accident, but the angry tantrum afterward makes the moment undignified. Or imagine a mayor getting into a shouting match over a parking space. It's not that strong feelings are wrong, but sometimes the way people express them makes them look silly or small.

The word often describes behavior that conflicts with someone's position or age. When adults throw temper tantrums like toddlers, that's undignified. When a politician gets caught lying about something petty, the situation becomes undignified.

You might also hear someone say “that's beneath my dignity” when asked to do something they consider undignified. They mean it would be embarrassing or inappropriate for them to do it. Being dignified means carrying yourself with self-respect and composure, especially when things go wrong. Acting undignified is the opposite: letting yourself look foolish, petty, or out of control in ways that make others uncomfortable or disappointed.