Meaning & Definition of word "Underweight"

Underweight

/ˈʌndərˌweɪt/

1. Body weight that is considered to be below the normal or healthy range for a person's height and age.
- Example: The doctor advised her to gain some weight, as she was clinically underweight.
2. Having less weight than is normal or required.
- Example: The athlete is underweight due to intense training and inadequate calorie intake.
3. In retail or finance, referring to a position that is smaller than the normal or optimal level.
- Example: The portfolio is underweight in technology stocks compared to the market average.

From under- (below) + weight (mass or heaviness)

underweight for age:

A medical term indicating a child's weight is insufficient compared to a normal range for their age group.

underweight male/female:

Refers specifically to males or females who are below the healthy weight range.

malnutrition:

A condition resulting from insufficient or unbalanced nutrient intake leading to underweight.

anemia:

A condition often associated with being underweight, where there is a deficiency of red blood cells.

Meaning: Skinny

Example Sentence: He's so skinny, he's basically underweight.

Meaning: Rail thin

Example Sentence: After the diet, she looked rail thin and underweight.