Showing results for "underpinning"

• present participle of underpin.

underpinning

American  

[uhn-der-pin-ing] / ˈʌn dərˌpɪn ɪŋ /

noun

underpinnings plural

1. a system of supports beneath a wall or the like.

2. Often underpinnings. a foundation or basis.

   to uncover the emotional underpinnings of an illness.

3. Informal. underpinnings,

   1. underwear, especially women's underwear.

   2. the legs.

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underpinning British  

/ ˈʌndəˌpɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. a structure of masonry, concrete, etc, placed beneath a wall to provide support

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• underpinnings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of underpinning

First recorded in 1480–90; under + pin + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

underpinning underpinnings

So if you accept the data underpinning momentum investing, and you are willing to take the long view, now is an excellent time to take a closer look.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

The digital euro cannot be created without the rules underpinning the project being approved by the EU capitals and the European Parliament.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Lam finds the philosophical underpinning of Project Spire troubling.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

Even the most altruistic acts have some psychological or emotional underpinning.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026

For more than eighteen months, from mid-2005 until early 2007, there had been this growing disconnect between the price of subprime mortgage bonds and the value of the loans underpinning them.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Christine Idzelis looked into the broad underpinnings of value stocks’ resurgence, which can set up a longer-term period of outperformance.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026

He charms the staff with his knowledge of these obscure machines – pointing out the bellows that power a church organ, and the pneumatic underpinnings of a piano roll player.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

"Our study reveals unique biological underpinnings of mental health that are often obscured by broad diagnostic categories."

From Science Daily ● May 4, 2026

“This would very directly attack the basic underpinnings of global commerce,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

It could have been the greatest moment in the partnership of Lawrence and Oppenheimer; the unveiling of earthshaking experimental findings with solid theoretical underpinnings.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik