Outmanned

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To experience a disadvantage due to being fewer in number compared to competitors in a confrontation
2. To encounter a scenario where the opposition has a greater numerical strength leading to an imbalance in a contest
3. Being in a situation where one's group has fewer members than the opposing force

Etymology: "Outmanned" is the past form of "outman", which is simply "out-" attached to "man" in the sense of "to supply with people". The prefix "out-" meant "beyond" or "surpassing", so to outman an opponent is to exceed them in number of men. The two parts are both old English words. "Out" descends from Old English "ut", ultimately from the same ancient root that gives Latin "ud" its sense of outward motion, while "man" comes from Old English "mann", meaning a human being or, in military contexts, a soldier. Compounds built this way, where "out-" is added to a noun or verb to mean "more than" or "better than", were a productive pattern in English, and "outman" follows it closely.

Synonyms: overpowered, overmatched, outnumbered, overwhelmed, outclassed

Antonyms: outnumbering, overpowering, matching, equaling, comparable