underpay

verb

un·​der·​pay ˌən-dər-ˈpā How to pronounce underpay (audio)
underpaid ˌən-dər-ˈpād How to pronounce underpay (audio) ; underpaying

transitive verb

: to pay less than what is normal or required
underpay taxes
underpayment noun

Examples of underpay in a Sentence

She underpaid for her meal. He realized that he had underpaid the cashier. The company underpays its workers. They are underpaid for the work they do.
Recent Examples on the Web Allegedly, the settlement vastly underpays college athletes compared to their market value, embraces sexism by paying male athletes more than female athletes and obliterates legal claims in other cases. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2024 The bear was always also, of course, the restaurant business: a feral industry nominally dedicated to leisure and delight that talks a big game about service and celebration while abusing or underpaying its workers, torturing its geniuses, and driving everyone concerned to bankruptcy and despair. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 27 June 2024 Despite running on Dunkin’ or lovin’ happy meals, America has a long history of underpaying the fast-food workers who make and deliver said iconic staples of the nation’s diet. Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 18 June 2024 Universities underpay clinical and adjunct faculty to subsidize (too often) unproductive tenured faculty. Byscott Galloway, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for underpay 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underpay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underpay was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near underpay

Cite this Entry

“Underpay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpay. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

underpay

verb
un·​der·​pay ˌən-dər-ˈpā How to pronounce underpay (audio)
underpaid -ˈpād How to pronounce underpay (audio) ; underpaying
: to pay too little

More from Merriam-Webster on underpay

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