underage

¹

[uhn-der-eyj]

adjective

1. lacking the required age, especially that of legal maturity.

underage

²

[uhn-der-ij]

noun

1. shortage; deficiency in amount.

underage

/ ˌʌndərˈeɪdʒ /

adjective

1. below the required or standard age, esp below the legal age for voting or drinking

Word History and Origins

Origin of underage¹

First recorded in 1585–95; under- + age

Origin of underage²

First recorded in 1605–15; under- + -age

Example Sentences

Meta has said it is taking other actions to safeguard children, including investing in artificial-intelligence age-estimation tools and having teams review reported accounts that appear to be used by underage people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

According to records from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, the underage girl was reported missing three times by family members in 2024.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That same era has recently been under indictment for the delight in which it leered at underage celebrities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are also the survivors themselves — over 1,000 women, many of whom who were underage girls at the time, according to the FBI.

Read more on Salon

Even if fans want to separate the artist from news stories about the man, it’s difficult given that Allen’s films often reflect an obsession with youthful — and occasionally underage — women.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adolescent