underdog
noun
un·der·dog
ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg 
1
: a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest
… the biggest obstacle has been the adjustment from underdog last season to contender …—
Mike Wise
Mike Wise2
: a victim of injustice or persecution
… portrayed himself as an honest underdog that the Government would do anything to stop.—Michael Specter
Michael SpecterExamples of underdog in a Sentence
I always root for the underdog instead of the favorite.
As a lawyer, she consistently represented the underdog.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cherie DeVaux became the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as underdog Golden Tempo surged from the back of the pack to pull off a stunning upset victory.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Lincoln were already underdogs in League One, with the 17th-largest budget out of 24 teams.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The Lakers, who just became the fourth team in 20 years to win all four of their first-round playoff games as the betting underdog, have already beaten the odds once this spring.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 3 May 2026
The mere potential for Edwards’ return is a source of optimism for his teammates preparing to lace ‘em up as a major underdog on Monday.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underdog
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Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Lincoln were already underdogs in League One, with the 17th-largest budget out of 24 teams.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The Lakers, who just became the fourth team in 20 years to win all four of their first-round playoff games as the betting underdog, have already beaten the odds once this spring.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 3 May 2026
The mere potential for Edwards’ return is a source of optimism for his teammates preparing to lace ‘em up as a major underdog on Monday.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underdog
Cite this Entry
“Underdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdog. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underdog
noun
un·der·dog
ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg
: the loser or predicted loser in a struggle
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