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

Drawing on classic trial films and cartoon lore, director Dave Green crafts an underdog story that mirrors the movie’s own David-versus-Goliath journey from studio discard to theatrical release. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Nine coaches who won as underdogs last week — three in their first season — lead the first AJC Varsity/GHSF Daily Improvement Tracker of the season. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Rutherford reflects on his unexpected entry into electoral politics as Larry Hogan’s running mate and their underdog victory in the 2014 governor’s race. — Kevin Richardson, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026

College sports are at their best when an underdog with a visionary coach can develop its roster and teamwork to beat even powerhouse programs. — U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 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