underdeveloped

American  

[uhn-der-di-vel-uhpt] / ˌʌn dər dɪˈvɛl əpt /

adjective

1. improperly or insufficiently developed.

2. Photography. (of a negative) less developed than is normal, so as to produce a relatively dark positive lacking in contrast.

3. developing.

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underdeveloped British  

/ ˌʌndədɪˈvɛləpt /

adjective

1. immature or undersized

2. relating to societies in which both the surplus capital and the social organization necessary to advance are lacking

3. photog (of a film, plate, or print) processed in developer for less than the required time, thus lacking in contrast

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Etymology

Origin of underdeveloped

First recorded in 1890–95; under- + develop + -ed ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

underdeveloped

Ames’ Julianne is underdeveloped, her family life a conceit of the play rather than a lived reality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

"Weak governance, poor oversight, ineffective escalation, and underdeveloped leadership created the conditions in which patients were seriously harmed," the chair added.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

It only takes one attention-grabbing and theologically underdeveloped topic for these competing incentives to create drama.

From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026

Brazil tilts more toward financials and commodities—it is one of the world’s major sources of iron ore, and has vast, underdeveloped rare-earth deposits.

From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026

“Your police department—others as well—may have retired, very probably have retired, authentic humans with underdeveloped empathic ability, such as my innocent niece here. Your position, Mr. Deckard, is extremely bad morally. Ours isn’t.”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Related Words

• embryonic
• nascent
• undeveloped