underweight

American  

[uhn-der-weyt, uhn-der-weyt] / ˈʌn dərˈweɪt, ˈʌn dərˌweɪt /

adjective

1. weighing less than is usual, required, or proper.

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noun

1. deficiency in weight below a standard or requirement.

underweight British  

/ ˌʌndəˈweɪt /

adjective

1. weighing less than is average, expected, or healthy

2. finance

   1. having a lower proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest

   2. (of a fund etc) disproportionately invested in this way

      pension funds have become underweight of equities

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Etymology

Origin of underweight

First recorded in 1590–1600; under- + weight

Example Sentences

So while Thill recommended that investors “stay underweight” the sector this year, he flagged some notable exceptions.

From MarketWatch

At the vets, it was discovered Floss was dehydrated, extremely underweight and anaemic, most likely due to the combination of malnutrition and fleas.

From BBC

Fern was initially nervous and underweight, the charity said, but with care, food and warmth, the whole family could be fostered.

From BBC

“That is the antithesis of how we invest. We are underweight AI and data-center stocks.”

From MarketWatch

Global fund managers are underweight energy more than any other equity sector, with energy at a net 26% underweight this month.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• malnourished
• starved
• undernourished