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
Economists, political scientists and sociologists have all puzzled over this phenomenon of how a country that is rich in resources can be so abysmally underdeveloped and stricken by conflict?
—
Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
The country's extraction industry is also significantly underdeveloped relative to its mineral wealth, producing only 20 tons of rare earths in 2024, compared to China's 270,000 tons.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
The show gestures toward critiques that are familiar but underdeveloped.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2025
Much of it, as with all of Ukraine’s critical minerals industry, is underdeveloped because of war as well as onerous state policies.
—Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underdeveloped
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Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
The country's extraction industry is also significantly underdeveloped relative to its mineral wealth, producing only 20 tons of rare earths in 2024, compared to China's 270,000 tons.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
The show gestures toward critiques that are familiar but underdeveloped.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2025
Much of it, as with all of Ukraine’s critical minerals industry, is underdeveloped because of war as well as onerous state policies.
—Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underdeveloped
Cite this Entry
“Underdeveloped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdeveloped. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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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