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Synonyms

undersized

American  
[uhn-der-sahyzd] / ˈʌn dərˈsaɪzd /

adjective

  1. smaller than the usual or normal size.

undersized British  
/ ˌʌndəˈsaɪzd /

adjective

  1. of less than usual size

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of undersized

First recorded in 1650–60; under- + size 1 + -ed 3

Explanation

The adjective undersized describes something that is smaller than usual. Your Great Dane is undersized if he fits comfortably on your lap. A normal pony might weigh 450 pounds, while an undersized pony could be only 200 pounds. When something is undersized, it is smaller than average, often significantly smaller. An undersized t-shirt will be skin tight, and an undersized car might draw curious stares as it drives past. It's also correct to say undersize, although undersized is more common.

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Vocabulary lists containing undersized

Kindred

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under (below)

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She is undersized but could get time to develop on the young Mystics.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Sony's family-friendly animated film "GOAT" -- the story of an undersized goat who wants to join a basketball-like "roarball" team -- finished in fourth place at $6.6 million.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Born in Follansbee, W.Va, Holtz grew up in Ohio and was an undersized linebacker at Kent State University.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

The film, the story of an undersized goat who wants to join a basketball-like "roarball" team, features Curry in a voice role.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

The dead clansmen were thin, ragged men, their horses scrawny and undersized, with every rib showing.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.