underarm

[ uhn-der-ahrm ]

/ ˈʌn dərˌɑrm /

Save This Word!

adjective

of, situated, or for use under the arm or in the armpit: an underarm deodorant.

underhand: an underarm pitch in softball.

noun

armpit.

adverb

underhand.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of underarm

First recorded in 1810–20; under- + arm¹

Words nearby underarm

under a cloud, underact, underactive, underage, under any circumstances, underarm, underarmed, under arrest, underbearer, underbelly, underbid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use underarm in a sentence

Concurrently, the underarm grip may have been used by the rear ranks whose objective relied more on defense rather than offense.
Hoplite: The Remarkable Citizen-Soldier of Ancient Greece|Dattatreya Mandal|August 2, 2022|Realm of History
The dogs then sniffed cones housing samples of sweat that had been collected from the underarms of volunteers.
To test for COVID-19, a dog’s nose can match a nose swab|Tina Hesman Saey|July 7, 2022|Science News For Students
The dogs then sniffed cones housing sweat samples collected from human volunteers’ underarms.
Trained dogs sniff out COVID-19 as well as lab tests do|Tina Hesman Saey|June 1, 2022|Science News
Still, airy stretch-woven nylon panels across the back and underarms dissipate sweat and permit a full range of motion, so testers stayed comfortable in zero-degree temperatures, even when they were huffing and puffing up the skin track.
The Best Jackets of 2022|jversteegh|October 26, 2021|Outside Online

Even on the first wear, there was no underarm or neckline chafing.
There’s Never Been a Better Time to Buy a Sustainable Wetsuit|wtaylor|July 23, 2021|Outside Online
In fitting the outside the back is pinned on to the lining firmly, then the front and finally at the underarm seams.
Textiles and Clothing|Kate Heintz Watson
An underarm dart gives a smooth adjustment over each hip, and in these darts are inserted the back edges of the vest.
Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884.|Various
Baste seams of sleeve and underarm all in one long seam on right side.
Clothing and Health|Helen Kinne
Mark with tracing or pencil the new seam for underarm if you must change it.
Clothing and Health|Helen Kinne
Baste, with the seams on the outside, shoulder, and underarm seams.
Clothing and Health|Helen Kinne

British Dictionary definitions for underarm

underarm

/ (ˈʌndərˌɑːm) /

adjective

(of a measurement) extending along the arm from wrist to armpit

sport of or denoting a style of throwing, bowling, or serving in which the hand is swung below shoulder level

below the arm

adverb

in an underarm style

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012