underdog
Americannoun
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a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict.
-
a victim of social or political injustice.
The underdogs were beginning to organize their protests.
noun
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the competitor least likely to win a fight or contest
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a person in adversity or in a position of inferiority
Etymology
Origin of underdog
1875–80, under- + dog ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Apple has come a long way from its days as a scrappy underdog in the personal-computing world.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
UConn’s upset means bettors who put money on the underdog will receive a larger payout.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
Our columnist traveled via Mint service on the underdog airline from JFK to Heathrow.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
He demonstrated the courage and resourcefulness of the underdog, and the power of a less sophisticated but patriotic army against a tested war machine.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
