undue
Americanadjective
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unwarranted; excessive.
undue haste.
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inappropriate; unjustifiable; improper.
undue influence.
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not owed or currently payable.
adjective
-
excessive or unwarranted
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unjust, improper, or illegal
-
(of a debt, bond, etc) not yet payable
Usage
The use of undue in sentences such as there is no cause for undue alarm is redundant and should be avoided
Etymology
Origin of undue
First recorded in 1350–1400, undue is from the Middle English word undewe. See un- 1, due
Explanation
When something isn't appropriate or justified, you can describe it as undue. For example, an undue delay in a hospital waiting room can be dangerous for someone with a bad injury. Something that's undue isn't warranted or, often, fair. The phrase "undue delay" is a common one, and it means that someone has to wait way too long for something, whether it's a building permit or a dentist appointment. The adjective has come to mean "excessive," from its original definition in the fourteenth century as literally "not owing" or "not payable."
Vocabulary lists containing undue
Wonder
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Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
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And Then There Were None
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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.
Princeton, the spokesperson added, maintains policies that “prevent outside funders from exercising undue influence over research,” including not permitting sponsors to have veto power over publications.
From Salon • Jun. 26, 2026
The Times, which first reported the story, said the government's intervention was over concerns the deal would place an "undue burden" on customers.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
Freeman describes Lilley as a friend, and an anonymous email sent to City Council in 2024 complained their socializing “could be perceived as exerting undue influence or favoritism.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
For those worried that tech is having undue influence on the direction of markets, indexes that instead give each company equal weight offer one alternative.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The experiment seemed to demonstrate the way even seemingly decent people could be corrupted by undue authority.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
