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

The degree to which the United States has been in the ugly thick of a Constitutional crisis since the beginning of 2025 has been persistently understated by the media. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Mink Brown Baum says to think of a mink brown is a true medium brown that’s rich and shiny, but still understated. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026

Miraval is immediately understated and elegant; its arrival center, an airy space overlooking one of the property's two pools. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Because accommodations are billed separately, the advertised figure understates the full cost of the stay. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 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