underpay

American  

[uhn-der-pey] / ˌʌn dərˈpeɪ /

verb (used with object)

underpays, present (3rd person singular) underpaid, past participle, past underpaying present participle

1. to pay less than is deserved or usual.

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underpay British  

/ ˌʌndəˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay (someone) insufficiently

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underpayment
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has underpaid
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have underpaid
  perfect
• has been underpaying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been underpaying
  perfect progressive
• is underpaying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• underpays
  singular 3rd person
• underpaying
  participle
• are underpaying
  progressive
• am underpaying
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had underpaid
  perfect
• had been underpaying
  perfect progressive
• was underpaying
  progressive singular
• were underpaying
  progressive plural
• underpaid
  participle
• underpaid
  simple

Future

• will underpay
  simple
• will have underpaid
  perfect
• will have been underpaying
  perfect progressive
• will be underpaying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of underpay

First recorded in 1840–50; under- + pay ¹

Example Sentences

Do they own shares in companies that underpay their workers?

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

Musk’s 11-day delay in disclosure allowed him to underpay for Twitter stock by at least $150 million.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

He also proposes expanding guest worker programs and “shifting accountability” from workers to corporations that underpay immigrant laborers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

White said he collects CDs to escape the domination of streaming services, which he believes underpay artists and have inconsistent offerings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

I am inexperienced in the matter of wages, but I feel sure that you either employ inferior workwomen or that you underpay them.

From Patty's Success by Wells, Carolyn