Word
underdog
Phoneticsun·der·dog, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəndɝˌdɔɡ/
UK/ˌʌndədˈɒɡ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person or team that is expected to lose a competition or struggle. People often support them because it is exciting to see them win against the odds.
n. a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest. Often used to describe a person or group in a position of disadvantage within a social or political struggle.
Examples
“The local team was the underdog in the final match.”
“Despite being the underdog in the election, the young candidate won by a surprising margin.”
“The film follows the classic narrative of a determined underdog who overcomes systemic obstacles to achieve victory against a much more powerful opponent.”
Examples
simple
“The local team was the underdog in the final match.”
contextual
“Despite being the underdog in the election, the young candidate won by a surprising margin.”
complex
“The film follows the classic narrative of a determined underdog who overcomes systemic obstacles to achieve victory against a much more powerful opponent.”
Usage
Commonly used with the definite article ('the underdog') when referring to the general concept of the disadvantaged party.
Real-World Examples
“Some say the IAU vote made Pluto an underdog for which people developed a soft spot in their hearts.” “This is a movie about an underdog and it’s become an underdog itself.” Etymology
From under- + dog.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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