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

2

: a victim of injustice or persecution

… portrayed himself as an honest underdog that the Government would do anything to stop.

—Michael Specter

Examples 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

Patriots 29, Bills 26 Of course, the 1–2 Patriots, who looked awful in Week 3, went into Buffalo and beat the previously unbeaten Bills as seven-point underdogs. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

The Tigers were underdogs against one of the most productive offenses in the country under rookie Southeastern Conference head coach Jon Sumrall. — Pj Green october 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

The crowds that gathered on Saturday to wish the team well described how affecting their underdog story has been. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Reaves has already set himself apart, as an underdog, a dawg, and now, one of the Lakers’ top dogs. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underdog

• analog
• analogue
• catalogue
• decalogue
• demagogue
• dialogue
• epilogue
• homologue
• monologue
• pedagogue
• synagogue
• tagalog

Kids Definition

underdog

noun

un·​der·​dog ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg 

: the loser or predicted loser in a struggle