underling

noun

un·​der·​ling ˈən-dər-liŋ How to pronounce underling (audio)
: one who is under the orders of another : subordinate, inferior

Examples of underling in a Sentence

He takes all the credit, but most of the hard work is done by his underlings. the real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The film, which debuted at the Busan International Film Festival, centers on gang underlings who, oddly, compete to avoid becoming the boss while pursuing personal ambitions. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025 Sandurz, an underling of Dark Helmet’s, is not a direct parody of any Star Wars character but plays a part similar to that of General Veers or Admiral Piett in the original series. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025 Like his Washington, Bargatze’s Farnsworth regaled a trio of underlings (SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson) with ridiculous yet accurate predictions for the future, in this case of TV. Judy Berman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025 When asked by an underling whether there will one day be a network for white people, Farnsworth said yes: CBS. Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for underling

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underling was in the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Underling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underling. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

underling

noun
un·​der·​ling ˈən-dər-liŋ How to pronounce underling (audio)
: one who is under the orders of another : subordinate
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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