underpay

[uhn-der-pey]

verb (used with object)

underpaid, underpaying 

1. to pay less than is deserved or usual.

underpay

/ ˌʌndəˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay (someone) insufficiently

Other Word Forms

• underpayment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underpay¹

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

Example Sentences

There have always been people working in California’s fields that are underpaid and underappreciated, and in some ways, things have only gotten worse for a lot of that population.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In 2012, the U.K. tax authority accused the company and Boyd-Bowman, as its finance director, of defrauding the state by underpaying taxes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In December 2023 the state announced it had reached a settlement agreement with Activision for $54 million, with the bulk of the funds going to compensate women who had been underpaid.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County announced Thursday it is opening an investigation into how State Farm General has treated January wildfire victims after complaints that their claims have been delayed, denied and underpaid.

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The union's policy officer, Guy Collis, said it was particularly worried about whether "underpaid" NHS staff may "feel the temptation to do this kind of work".

Read more on BBC