undersized

undersized — adjective

1. smaller than what is normal, expected, or needed for a particular person, thing,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

smaller than what is normal, expected, or needed for a particular person, thing, or situation

Example

Sayaka bought an undersized jacket that she could barely zip up.

undersized + clothing noun

The undersized puppy weighed only half as much as its litter mates.

undersized + animal noun

Common collocations
  • undersized puppy
  • undersized kitchen
  • undersized portion
  • undersized equipment
  • undersized room
  • noticeably undersized
  • slightly undersized
Synonyms
  • small

    general term; less specific about a missing size target

  • diminutive

    formal tone, neutral-to-positive connotation

  • stunted

    negative connotation, implies failed growth

  • petite

    chiefly for women or delicate objects; positive connotation

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

undersized + noun

be + undersized

Usage Note

Commonly applied to physical objects (clothing, rooms, equipment) and animals. Less natural for describing people — consider using 'small' or 'short' instead.

Common Mistakes

He is undersized for his age.
He is short for his age.
'undersized' is seldom used for people and can sound dismissive; 'short' or 'small' are more neutral.

Word family

  • undersize
    adjectiveB2
  • size
    nounA2
  • size
    verbB1
  • sizing
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe something that is less than typical in size, but they differ in connotation and scope. 'Undersized' specifically means smaller than the expected or required size — a jacket that does not fit or a puppy that is behind its litter mates. 'Small' is the broadest, neutral term for anything of limited dimensions. 'Diminutive' is more formal and often carries a gentle, almost affectionate tone (a diminutive figure, a diminutive bird). 'Stunted' adds a strong negative sense of arrested or failed development, usually from poor nutrition or harmful conditions. For example: 'The undersized pipes caused low water pressure' (wrong for the job), whereas 'The stunted plants never recovered from the drought' (failed growth).

undersized ↗small ↗diminutivestunted

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • undersized for its age
  • undersized by comparison

Prepositions

  • undersized for

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 'under-' (meaning 'below' or 'less than') to the past participle 'sized', which comes from the noun 'size'. 'Size' entered English from Old French 'sise', a shortened form of 'assise' (a sitting, a measure). So 'undersized' literally means 'measured as smaller than the standard'.