underdog

/ˈʌndərˌdɔɡ/

someone expected to lose

In the championship, the local team was the underdog against the reigning champions.

The local team was not expected to win against the stronger team.

informal

A person, team, or group considered likely to lose a contest or competition.

Despite being the underdog, the small startup managed to outperform the industry giants.

Even though they were not expected to succeed, the small company achieved more than the larger companies.

Often used in sports, business, or any competitive context where one side is perceived as weaker or less favored.

Collocations

underdog victorya win by the unexpected or weaker competitorunderdog storya narrative about an unlikely winner

a surprising success by an unlikely candidate

a contest between a weaker and a stronger opponent

The term is frequently used in sports to describe a team or athlete with little chance of winning.

While useful, overusing 'underdog' can make writing repetitive. Vary with synonyms like 'dark horse' or 'long shot'.

Originated in the early 20th century, likely from boxing terminology, where the underdog was the fighter not expected to win.

Commonly used in sports, business, and storytelling to describe an unlikely winner or challenger.

under

below or lesser

prefix

dog

a fighting dog (historical context)

root

English Dictionary