underdeveloped

American  

[uhn-der-di-vel-uhpt] / ˌʌn dər dɪˈvɛl əpt /

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.

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underdeveloped British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of underdeveloped

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

Example Sentences

Underdeveloped characters randomly state the subtext aloud and we never learn the details of Connie and JoJo’s scam, or why their customers might buy from them.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2021

Underdeveloped as characters, Mother and Toy never come into focus.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2018

In his 1957 study “Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions” and elsewhere, he suggested that a Scandinavian-style model was not only good social policy but smart economics.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 9, 2015

Underdeveloped countries especially need this because they lack big, viable commercial research sectors.

From Slate • Jan. 11, 2015

Underdeveloped, because with physical tools its development had been made unnecessary?

From Eight Keys to Eden by Clifton, Mark

Related Words

• embryonic
• nascent
• undeveloped