underdog

noun

un·​der·​dog ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg 

1

: a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest

2

: a victim of injustice or persecution

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

Twenty years later, Jim Montgomery, goalkeeper for Second Division underdogs Sunderland, would pull off an incredible double save to deny Leeds United in an upset so huge rival fans became even more desperate to see their own heroes do similar at the 100,000-capacity national stadium. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

The idea the two-time defending champs are tantamount to underdogs to make history is itself a compelling story -- good for the league. —Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025

The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025

And now, in its maturity, Romancelandia retains the features that served it so well as an underdog. —Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025

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