underweight

[ adjective uhn-der-weyt; noun uhn-der-weyt ]

adjective

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

noun

1. deficiency in weight below a standard or requirement.

underweight

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of underweight¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; under- + weight

Example Sentences

In fact, Mercedes crossed the line one-two in Belgium only for George Russell to be disqualified from victory for his car being underweight.

From BBC

Official data shows that more than 35% of India’s 137 million children under five are stunted, with over a third also underweight.

From BBC

“Sometimes they are underweight, some are overweight, and some are severely malnourished,” one doctor told the BBC.

From BBC

We also included parental measures such as having an underweight or stressed mother, being born or weaned late, and losing their mother.

From Salon

The lion was roughly 12 to 16 months old and 3 to 5 pounds underweight for her age, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• malnourished
• starved
• undernourished