WordGarden.iounderdog
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌʌndədˈɒɡ/
US
- /ˈəndərˌdɔɡ/
Meanings
Noun
a person, team, or side expected to lose or seen as less likely to succeed
Adjective
expected to lose or having less power or advantage than a rival
Beyond the definition
This word is not really about dogs. It describes a person, team, or group that people expect to lose. Even so, people often root for them, especially when they are trying hard against someone stronger or better prepared. Think of David facing Goliath. A small local team playing a famous national team can be the underdog. So can a political candidate with very little money or support. The word often carries a feeling of hope, because everyone enjoys seeing the weaker side surprise the favorite.
The term "underdog" comes from 19th-century dogfighting, where it referred to the dog seen as weaker and less likely to win. Over time, the meaning grew broader. Now it usually describes any person, team, company, or group that seems less likely to succeed, especially when facing a stronger or more powerful rival. It does not just mean "weak." It means that people see them as having much lower chances of winning.
An underdog often has real disadvantages, such as less money, less experience, fewer supporters, or less influence. That difficult position is exactly what makes the story interesting. People often feel sympathy for the underdog and cheer for them because it takes courage to keep going when the odds seem unfair.
You will hear "underdog" in sports, politics, business, and everyday life. In sports, it may describe a team that is expected to lose to a champion. In politics, it may describe a candidate with little money or public support. In business, it can describe a small company trying to compete with a giant one. People also use it more loosely for someone facing hard personal circumstances and still refusing to give up. The word is powerful because it is not only about losing. It is about effort, hope, and the chance that someone ignored or underestimated might still win in the end. That is why underdog stories are so popular: they remind us that power is not always everything.
Examples
- 1
Sports upset
Nobody expected the underdog to win the final, but they played with real confidence.
- 2
Election
In the election, she started as the underdog and ended up beating a much better-known candidate.
- 3
Small business
Small local shops often feel like the underdog when a huge chain opens nearby.
- 4
Cheering
People love to root for the underdog, especially when the favorite seems too powerful.
- Patternroot for + person/team
support them and hope they win
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Story type
The film is a classic underdog story about a team that refuses to give up.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- underdognoun
Forms
- underdogspluralnoun