underpay

American  

[uhn-der-pey] / ˌʌn dərˈpeɪ /

verb (used with object)

underpaid, underpaying

1. to pay less than is deserved or usual.

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underpay British  

/ ˌʌndəˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay (someone) insufficiently

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Other Word Forms

• underpayment noun

Etymology

Origin of underpay

First recorded in 1840–50; under- + pay ¹

Example Sentences

White said he collects CDs to escape the domination of streaming services, which he believes underpay artists and have inconsistent offerings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

We found that insurers often block care, underpay mental health providers and make it hard for patients to find help — sometimes with deadly consequences.

From Salon • Aug. 19, 2025

Passenger watchdog Transport Focus has pleaded for train companies to treat passengers more fairly when they mistakenly underpay their fares.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2024

There’s an argument to be made that tipping in general allows employers to underpay their employees but until tipping gets eliminated everywhere, it is a big portion of how people sustain themselves in service industries.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2023

Clothing here, as elsewhere, is synonymous with overwork and underpay, the wage being below subsistence point; and want of training is often found to be a portion of the reason for these conditions.

From Women Wage-Earners Their Past, Their Present, and Their Future by Campbell, Helen