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

Critics of Mamdani accuse him of downplaying the complexities of the city’s vast dispatch system while understating the number of calls that require a police response. —ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026

That may understate the value of capital gains for the wealthy. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

Having something that syncs immediately with your phone can’t be understated. —Grace McCarty, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026

Thousands of patients have already filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, alleging the company understated the health risks of its GLP-1 drugs. —Austin Fast, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for understate

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

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