underdeveloped

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adjective un·der·de·vel·oped \ ˌən-dər-di-ˈve-ləpt \

Definition of underdeveloped

1 :not normally or adequately developed

underdeveloped muscles

underdeveloped film

2 :having a relatively low economic level of industrial production and standard of living (as from lack of capital)

underdeveloped nations

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underdevelopment

play \ˌən-dər-di-ˈve-ləp-mənt\ noun

See underdeveloped defined for English-language learners

See underdeveloped defined for kids

Examples of underdeveloped in a Sentence

The baby was born with underdeveloped lungs.

Recent Examples of underdeveloped from the Web

For decades, all the power players — government officials, foreign corporations, safe-haven banks — have extracted a large share of wealth because the poor in underdeveloped nations were few, disorganized, and largely uninformed.

— sami j. karam, National Review, "A Different Kind of Border Wall," 21 Aug. 2017
But their uterus and vagina are either underdeveloped or absent.

— amanda macmillan, PEOPLE.com, "Woman Born Without a Vagina Crowdfunding Money For Surgery," 16 Aug. 2017
But their uterus and vagina are either underdeveloped or absent.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "This Woman Was Born Without a Vagina, and She’s Launched a Go Fund Me Page for Life-Changing Surgery," 16 Aug. 2017
Rwanda is still one of the poorest countries in the world, with few natural resources and underdeveloped human capital.

— melina platas, Washington Post, "Here’s why Paul Kagame won a third term as Rwanda’s president," 5 Aug. 2017
But maybe, the man suggests, companies such as Ghosn’s should first introduce them to Bangkok and other underdeveloped cities, where rapid globalization has brought increased mobility but also haphazard urbanization and murderous traffic.

— monte reel, Bloomberg.com, "If Davos Were a Person, It Would Be Carlos Ghosn," 20 July 2017
Schaal and Ulrich’s mostly one-note performances remain limited by their casting as adult versions of underdeveloped teenage types.

— justin lowe, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Austin Found': Film Review," 7 July 2017
But with underdeveloped and for the most part interchangeable characters, the book fails as imaginative fiction.

— rayyan al-shawaf, latimes.com, "Activists love and lose in the Cairo novel, 'The City Always Wins'," 29 June 2017
Preemies are at high risk for respiratory infections because of their underdeveloped lungs, for example; the most dangerous is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which Layla's pediatrician gave her a special, but expensive, vaccine for.

— jessica valenti, Marie Claire, "If Republicans Are Pro-Life, Why Don't They Care About My Child?," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'underdeveloped.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of underdeveloped

1892

UNDERDEVELOPED Defined for English Language Learners

underdeveloped

play

adjective

Definition of underdeveloped for English Language Learners

: not developed to a normal size or strength
of a country, society, etc. : having many poor people and few industries

Medical Dictionary

underdeveloped

play

adjective un·der·de·vel·oped \ ˌən-dər-di-ˈvel-əpt \

medical Definition of underdeveloped

:not normally or adequately developed

underdeveloped muscles

underdeveloped lungs

Learn More about underdeveloped

Spanish Central: Translation of underdeveloped Nglish: Translation of underdeveloped for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of underdeveloped for Arabic speakers

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underdeveloped

Definition of underdeveloped

underdevelopment

Examples of underdeveloped in a Sentence

Recent Examples of underdeveloped from the Web

First Known Use of underdeveloped

UNDERDEVELOPED Defined for English Language Learners

underdeveloped

Definition of underdeveloped for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

underdeveloped

medical Definition of underdeveloped

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underdeveloped

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underdevelopment

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underdeveloped

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underdeveloped

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