adjective
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immature or undersized
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relating to societies in which both the surplus capital and the social organization necessary to advance are lacking
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photog (of a film, plate, or print) processed in developer for less than the required time, thus lacking in contrast
Etymology
Origin of underdeveloped
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chief Executive He Xiaopeng said the company decided to offer the L03 in both battery-electric and extended-range versions after observing that charging infrastructure remains underdeveloped in many overseas markets, including parts of Mexico and Africa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
"Weak governance, poor oversight, ineffective escalation, and underdeveloped leadership created the conditions in which patients were seriously harmed," the chair added.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
It only takes one attention-grabbing and theologically underdeveloped topic for these competing incentives to create drama.
From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026
According to her Instagram post, Phillips was born with an underdeveloped kidney.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026
In addition, since humans are born underdeveloped, they can be educated and socialised to a far greater extent than any other animal.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
