underdog

[uhn-der-dawg, -dog]

noun

1. a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict.

2. a victim of social or political injustice.

   The underdogs were beginning to organize their protests.

underdog

/ ˈʌndəˌdɒɡ /

noun

1. the competitor least likely to win a fight or contest

2. a person in adversity or in a position of inferiority

Word History and Origins

Origin of underdog¹

1875–80, under- + dog ( def. )

Example Sentences

Tuchel's underdog claim makes a lot more sense, though, if you take the expected weather conditions into account across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Read more on BBC

The federal public defender for Southern California is in charge of a unit that’s always underfunded and perpetually an underdog against the might and resources of the government.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nate says it was an "unconventional choice", but key to the story the developers wanted to tell of an underdog defying society's expectations.

Read more on BBC

Nurmagomedov, who was making the third defence of his belt, represented a step up in difficulty but Hughes impressed throughout as he embraced the underdog tag.

Read more on BBC

"He said, 'don't go into this final as underdogs, you want to attack from the front'," recalls Sawyer.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• dark horse 
• longshot www.thesaurus.com