Standard Lemma guide

underling

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈʌndəlɪŋ/
  • Canada, General-American: /ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ˈɐndəlɪŋ/
  • CMU ARPABET: AH1 N D ER0 L IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A low, wretched person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an assistant subject to the authority or control of another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: subordinate, subsidiary, foot soldier

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: assistant, helper, help, supporter

Narrower terms: associate, bottom dog, cog, man, second fiddle, second banana

History

Etymology

From Middle English underling, from Old English underling. By surface analysis, under + -ling.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 下屬 /下属 (xiàshǔ) — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Dutch: ondergeschikte — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Finnish: alainen — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Finnish: käskyläinen — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • French: subordonné — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • French: sous-fifre — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • German: Untergebener — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • German: Untergebene — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • German: Untertan — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • German: Unterling — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Hungarian: beosztott — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Japanese: 下っ端 (shitappa) — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Javanese: sosoran — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Latin: subiectus — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Russian: подчинённый (podčinjónnyj) — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Russian: ме́лкая со́шка (mélkaja sóška) — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority
  • Thai: ลูกน้อง (lûuk-nɔ́ɔng) — a subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority