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
The organization will send Americans — many of them young people of college age or slightly over — to underdeveloped foreign countries to help as teachers, technicians, agricultural experts and in other practical ways.
—
Eric Mandel, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Phillips, 45, was born with underdeveloped kidneys and received her first kidney transplant at 36.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
But significant characters like Jon and Laura Linney’s Kristen — who in addition to being Jon’s wife is also Richard’s ex and the town’s mayor — are too underdeveloped to earn our investment.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
The virus will break through his underdeveloped blood-brain barrier and begin attacking his brain matter directly, leading to primary measles encephalitis.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underdeveloped
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Eric Mandel, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Phillips, 45, was born with underdeveloped kidneys and received her first kidney transplant at 36.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
But significant characters like Jon and Laura Linney’s Kristen — who in addition to being Jon’s wife is also Richard’s ex and the town’s mayor — are too underdeveloped to earn our investment.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
The virus will break through his underdeveloped blood-brain barrier and begin attacking his brain matter directly, leading to primary measles encephalitis.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underdeveloped
Cite this Entry
“Underdeveloped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdeveloped. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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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