Skip to main content

underpaidreceiving less money for work than is considered fair or adequate

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: receiving less money for work than is considered fair or adequate

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌʌndərˈpeɪd/

Example Sentences

  • The superhero complained that saving the world was an underpaid job with terrible working hours.
  • Nurses are often underpaid despite their crucial role in healthcare.
  • He realized he was underpaid when his pet goldfish got a better allowance than his salary.

underpaid

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌʌndərˈpeɪd/]

receiving less money for work than is considered fair or adequate

The nurse works double shifts but stays underpaid every month.
💡 Concept

The nurse works double shifts but stays underpaid every month.

Wages displayed, promotion delayed - underpaid!
🎵 Rhyme

Wages displayed, promotion delayed - underpaid!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌʌndərˈpeɪd/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌʌndəˈpeɪd/

🌳Etymology

Prefixunder--
Rootpaid

Origin

A compound word formed from the English preposition 'under' (meaning beneath or below) and the past participle 'paid' (from the verb 'pay'). The term emerged during the Industrial Revolution to describe workers receiving wages below a fair or adequate standard, gaining widespread usage alongside labor rights movements.

Breakdown

under- (beneath, below a standard) + paid (past participle of 'pay', meaning remunerated or compensated). The compound denotes compensation below an appropriate or living wage level.

🎵Rhyme

displayeddelayedreplayed
displayed
delayed
replayed

🔗Collocations

severely underpaid
underpaid workers
feel underpaid
underpaid profession
chronically underpaid
underpaid employees

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The superhero complained that saving the world was an underpaid job with terrible working hours.

Nurses are often underpaid despite their crucial role in healthcare.

😄 Fun example

He realized he was underpaid when his pet goldfish got a better allowance than his salary.

Many social workers feel underpaid for the demanding nature of their work.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

undervaluedunderprivilegedpoorly paidlow-paid

Antonyms

overpaidwell-paidhighly compensated

Related

salarywagescompensationincomebenefits

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.