understate

verb

un·​der·​state ˌən-dər-ˈstāt 

understated; understating; understates

transitive verb

1

: to represent as less than is the case

understate taxable income

2

: to state or present with restraint especially for effect

Examples of understate in a Sentence

He understated his taxable income.

She's trying to understate the issue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Entergy, in its statement Wednesday, said that the Democrat-Gazette's article contained a math error that understated Google's financial contributions to the project. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Even her beauty look was understated, from her unfussy low bun to her pretty pale-pink square manicure. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2026

For a business owner whose returns understate what the company brings in, this flips the math. — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Expectations for board members (time per month, additional duties, sub-committee contributions) are explicitly stated and not understated. — Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for understate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

understate

verb

un·​der·​state ˌən-dər-ˈstāt 

1

: to represent as less than is the case

understate taxable income

2

: to state mildly especially on purpose

understatement

-mənt 

noun