underdeveloped

[ uhn-der-di-vel-uhpt ]

adjective

1. improperly or insufficiently developed.
2. Photography. (of a negative) less developed than is normal, so as to produce a relatively dark positive lacking in contrast.
3. developing ( def 2 ).

underdeveloped

/ ˌʌndədɪˈvɛləpt /

adjective

1. immature or undersized
2. relating to societies in which both the surplus capital and the social organization necessary to advance are lacking
3. photog (of a film, plate, or print) processed in developer for less than the required time, thus lacking in contrast

Word History and Origins

Origin of underdeveloped¹

First recorded in 1890–95; under- + develop + -ed ²

Example Sentences

States across the US have found themselves struggling with underdeveloped logistics that have caused problems in delivery and made rollout slower than promised.

From MIT Technology Review

The lack of non–English-language websites on the open Internet is a strong proxy for an underdeveloped digital economy.

From Fortune

However, while the methods of fraud are not necessarily new, identifying and eliminating fraud in the CTV ad market is difficult because of how underdeveloped and opaque the market remains.

From Digiday

In countries with underdeveloped infrastructure, a vaccine’s journey can be perilous.

From Fortune

The issue might be less about major disruption on continent but more about the over-reliance on underdeveloped supply chains which struggle in the wake of the global crisis.

From Quartz

But there are too many characters—all slightly underdeveloped—and storylines for the viewer to feel invested in any one of them.

From The Daily Beast

With Bruce Wayne out of the picture, Dick Grayson is free to cultivate that hitherto underdeveloped aspect of his abilities.

From The Daily Beast

Since her lower jaw is underdeveloped and her teeth never grew in, her little tongue is permanently sticking out.

From The Daily Beast

Following 22 years of civil war, many areas of South Sudan remain severely underdeveloped.

From The Daily Beast

As part of the speculation about his love life, a rumor had gone around that Hoover had an underdeveloped sex organ.

From The Daily Beast

Though immature and underdeveloped by Terran standards, she had a fair figure for a Dry-town woman.

From Project Gutenberg

This is because it is underdeveloped, the chemicals acting too quickly to allow it to gain density.

From Project Gutenberg

An overexposed and underdeveloped plate may be redeveloped, and this process is usually called strengthening or intensifying.

From Project Gutenberg

This is more likely against a modernized, developed state than an underdeveloped government.

From Project Gutenberg

It means steady advancement in the economic development of the underdeveloped areas of the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• embryonic
• nascent
• undeveloped