underutilization

American  

[uhn-der-yoot-l-ahy-zey-shuhn] / ˌʌn dərˌyut l aɪˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, underutilisation

noun

1. failure to put to practical or profitable use.

   The theory fails to fully explain the underutilization of preventive care even when the care is fully subsidized.

   This initiative hopes to address the underutilization of financial aid in community colleges.

2. failure to use a machine, resource, etc., to its full capacity.

   The public firms' low productivity rates and underutilization of capital equipment led to operating costs about 25 percent higher than in the private companies.

   The underutilization of the collected data prevents improvements in product quality, energy efficiency, reliability, and, ultimately, profit margins.

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Etymology

Origin of underutilization

underutiliz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Underemployment and underutilization both fell in December, while hours worked rose, the data showed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

First, reposition and remodel aging, family-focused resorts that are experiencing underutilization, transforming play areas and kids’ clubs into wellness decks, dining hubs or cultural immersion spaces.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 3, 2025

The work of Fanaroff and his colleagues aimed to address the underutilization of statin therapy in U.S. adults who are candidates for such treatment.

From Science Daily • Nov. 13, 2023

"Intel's gross margin continues to suffer from competitive pricing, fab underutilization and new product start-up cost," said Kinngai Chan, analyst at Summit Insights Group.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2023

In 1990, despite rising oil prices and a sharp drop in inflation, performance remained slack with continuing underutilization of industrial capacity and a second year of relatively weak agricultural performance.

From The 1991 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency