: weighing less than the normal or requisite amount
Synonyms
Examples of underweight in a Sentence
Adjective
the long illness left him frail and underweight
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Gutman-Wei, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2023
His team remains overweight on the rest of the world, with a focus on Switzerland, while remaining underweight on the US — a strategy that hasn’t yet panned out as the S&P 500 is outperforming the MSCI All-Country World Index excluding the US this year.
—Farah Elbahrawy, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2023
Rudy Rudy arrived at his forever home underweight and in need of training and is now a healthy, affectionate dog who enjoys making new friends.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023
The calf was born slightly underweight and had a hard time nursing, according to zoo officials, concerning animal caretakers and prompting intervention.
—Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 13 June 2023
Only 6% of folks with eating disorders are clinically underweight (according to BMI standards, which, again, even the American Medical Association admits are deeply flawed).
—Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 28 Aug. 2023
Black and Latino teens are also more likely to struggle with bulimia and binge eating disorder, which can lead to serious cardiac complications and significantly increase suicide risk even in patients who aren’t underweight.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023
For managers that are underweight China, the pullback/correction from the past week may provide an opportunity to get back in.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
Despite the pervasive eating disorder stereotype — white, female and underweight — teens from racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as males and teens with larger bodies, develop certain eating disorders at even higher rates, according to research.
—Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2023
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Adjective
Patients with anorexia were still unable to bring themselves to eat, still stuck in rigid thought patterns, still chillingly underweight.
—Rachel Gutman-Wei, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2023
His team remains overweight on the rest of the world, with a focus on Switzerland, while remaining underweight on the US — a strategy that hasn’t yet panned out as the S&P 500 is outperforming the MSCI All-Country World Index excluding the US this year.
—Farah Elbahrawy, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2023
Rudy Rudy arrived at his forever home underweight and in need of training and is now a healthy, affectionate dog who enjoys making new friends.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023
The calf was born slightly underweight and had a hard time nursing, according to zoo officials, concerning animal caretakers and prompting intervention.
—Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 13 June 2023
Only 6% of folks with eating disorders are clinically underweight (according to BMI standards, which, again, even the American Medical Association admits are deeply flawed).
—Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 28 Aug. 2023
Black and Latino teens are also more likely to struggle with bulimia and binge eating disorder, which can lead to serious cardiac complications and significantly increase suicide risk even in patients who aren’t underweight.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023
For managers that are underweight China, the pullback/correction from the past week may provide an opportunity to get back in.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
Despite the pervasive eating disorder stereotype — white, female and underweight — teens from racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as males and teens with larger bodies, develop certain eating disorders at even higher rates, according to research.
—Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underweight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near underweight
Cite this Entry
“Underweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underweight. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
underweight
adjective
un·der·weight
ˌən-dər-ˈwāt
: weighing less than what is normal, average, or necessary
Medical Definition
underweight
adjective
un·der·weight
-ˈwāt 
: weighing less than the normal amount for one's age, height, and build
underweight children
underweight adults typically have a body mass index of less than 18.5
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