underdog

noun

un·​der·​dog ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg How to pronounce underdog (audio)
1
: a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest
2
: a victim of injustice or persecution

Examples of underdog in a Sentence

I always root for the underdog instead of the favorite. As a lawyer, she consistently represented the underdog.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Brazilian side Fluminense, on the other hand, is a heavy underdog at longer than 10-to-1 odds. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025 Like most great underdog stories, Rudy is sentimental and a bit formulaic. Sophie Van Bastelaer, EW.com, 7 July 2025 Fold, Learn, Lead Sport has always celebrated resilience: the underdog comeback, the gritty overtime victory. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 5 July 2025 Regarding over dramatizations, Sonny’s sudden re-introduction to F1 makes for a compelling underdog story and generational clash with his teammate but in reality, nobody gets a seat in real-world F1 without arduously clawing their way up through Formula 2, Formula 3 and other motorsport leagues. Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for underdog

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underdog was in 1859

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Cite this Entry

“Underdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdog. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

underdog

noun
un·​der·​dog ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg How to pronounce underdog (audio)
: the loser or predicted loser in a struggle

More from Merriam-Webster on underdog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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