underdeveloped
adjective
un·der·de·vel·oped
ˌən-dər-di-ˈve-ləpt 
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
Examples of underdeveloped in a Sentence
The baby was born with underdeveloped lungs.
Recent Examples on the Web
There was a heartbeat, but the fetus was very underdeveloped and there was very little amniotic fluid.
—
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 30 Sep. 2024
Upcoming technology allows hard-to-reach and underdeveloped communities to construct a tourism-friendly infrastructure that protects their local traditions and habitat.
—Geoff Whitmore, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
The fetus was deemed too underdeveloped to survive, and the ruptured membranes posed a serious threat of infection.
—Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2024
One completely baffling aspect of Concord’s final product was the underdeveloped nature of the game’s characters and the pages and pages of lore and universe building buried in the Galactic Guide — none of which is anywhere to be found within the gameplay itself.
—Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underdeveloped 
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 30 Sep. 2024
Upcoming technology allows hard-to-reach and underdeveloped communities to construct a tourism-friendly infrastructure that protects their local traditions and habitat.
—Geoff Whitmore, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
The fetus was deemed too underdeveloped to survive, and the ruptured membranes posed a serious threat of infection.
—Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2024
One completely baffling aspect of Concord’s final product was the underdeveloped nature of the game’s characters and the pages and pages of lore and universe building buried in the Galactic Guide — none of which is anywhere to be found within the gameplay itself.
—Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underdeveloped
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underdeveloped.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near underdeveloped
Cite this Entry
“Underdeveloped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdeveloped. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underdeveloped
adjective
un·der·de·vel·oped
ˌən-dər-di-ˈvel-əpt
1
: not developed normally or enough
underdeveloped muscles
2
: having a low level of industrial production and standard of living
the underdeveloped nations
Medical Definition
underdeveloped
adjective
un·der·de·vel·oped
ˌən-dər-di-ˈvel-əpt
: not normally or adequately developed
underdeveloped muscles
underdeveloped lungs
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