noun
underdog
UHN-duh-dog
noun
1
A competitor who is expected to lose.
"The underdog shocked everyone by winning the championship."
"Fans always love cheering for the underdog."
How to Use Underdog
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe one nobody expects to win.
Common pairings
root for the underdog
underdog story
Word Forms
underdogs plural
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The _____ shocked everyone by winning the championship.
Etymology
From under- + dog, originally likening the loser to the dog that ends up pinned beneath its opponent in a fight.