underpinning

[uhn-der-pin-ing]

noun

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.

underpinning

/ ˈʌndəˌpɪnɪŋ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of underpinning¹

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

Example Sentences

"In short, a latent bug in a service underpinning our bot mitigation capability started to crash after a routine configuration change we made."

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He stressed that the economics underpinning the bullish argument are “far weaker than assumed.”

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“Hamas are the ones creating this chaos,” said Mohammad Burno, 33, an anti-Hamas activist who supports the rival Fatah party underpinning the Palestinian Authority, which governs much of the West Bank.

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“Any proposal should respect international law and internationally accepted legal principles underpinning Western economies and protect the interests of Euroclear and its stakeholders,” he said.

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“We think HBM competitiveness matters for the AI narrative underpinning the rationale for a higher multiple, but is more likely to hold back earnings in the near term as pricing is more stable,” Moore wrote.

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