undercount

[ verb uhn-der-kount; noun uhn-der-kount ]

verb (used with object)

1. to count less than the full number or amount of:

   The mayor claimed the census had undercounted the city's population.

noun

1. a count or total that is less than the actual number or amount.

Word History and Origins

Origin of undercount¹

First recorded in 1950–55; under- + count ¹

Example Sentences

However, she said only a quarter of agricultural areas have been assessed, so the $6 million in losses is likely an extreme undercount.

From Los Angeles Times

Even 13,000 is likely an undercount.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite the sheer number of injuries, experts say, those figures are still probably an undercount.

From Los Angeles Times

The industry has taken a lot of steps to understand the consistent Trump undercount.

From Salon

Many experts think that this figure is an undercount of the true number of people living with the condition.

From Slate