underweight

American  

[uhn-der-weyt, uhn-der-weyt] / ˈʌn dərˈweɪt, ˈʌn dərˌweɪt /

adjective

1. weighing less than is usual, required, or proper.

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noun

1. deficiency in weight below a standard or requirement.

underweight British  

/ ˌʌndəˈweɪt /

adjective

1. weighing less than is average, expected, or healthy

2. finance

   1. having a lower proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest

   2. (of a fund etc) disproportionately invested in this way

      pension funds have become underweight of equities

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Etymology

Origin of underweight

First recorded in 1590–1600; under- + weight

Example Sentences

A look under the hood suggests why: Technology and communications stocks represent 51% of its portfolio, which constitute 43% of the S&P 500, while it is underweight in energy, industrials, and materials.

From Barron's

A look under the hood suggests why: Technology and communications stocks represent 51% of its portfolio, which constitute 43% of the S&P 500, while it is underweight in energy, industrials, and materials.

From Barron's

Roth is underweight the consumer discretionary sector, but O’Hara notes there may be an opportunity to buy following the recent weakness in Starbucks and Amazon.com.

From Barron's

One strategist believes it calls for a tactically underweight stance on equities in the short term, for continued strength in energy and a further selloff in tech shares.

From MarketWatch

"If they're underweight, or they've struggled into the winter in the first place, this is a double hard hit for them."

From BBC

Related Words

• malnourished
• starved
• undernourished