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underspend

British  
/ ˌʌndəˈspɛnd /

verb

  1. to spend less than (one can afford or is allocated)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the amount by which someone or something is underspent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

He added that any government underspend in its end of year accounts should be returned to taxpayers as a dividend.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Yet they don’t provide longevity protection, prompting many retirees to underspend to avoid depleting their assets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

“It’s the right strategy. The greater risk is to underspend and to be left with a competitive disadvantage.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

He said there had been a council underspend and £1.9m has been earmarked to pay for changes.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2025

RMG disputed Park View Court had fallen into a state of disrepair and said service costs were audited, with any underspend returned.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2024

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