Underearn

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make less income than would be appropriate given one's skills, qualifications, or the work performed
2. To receive payment below what is reasonable or standard for a particular job or level of ability
3. To gain a lower salary or wage than one could realistically command in the marketplace

Etymology: "Underearn" is a plain compound: the prefix "under-", meaning "below what is due or expected," attached to "earn," which comes from Old English "earnian," meaning to merit or deserve through labour or service. Put together, the word describes earning less than something is worth or than a person ought to receive for the work done. The pattern is a familiar one in English. "Under-" pairs with many verbs to signal insufficiency, as in "underpay," "undercharge," and "undervalue," and "underearn" follows the same logic, applying it specifically to income from work. Its meaning is therefore transparent from its parts, with no surprising shift from an earlier sense.

Synonyms: undercompensate

Antonyms: overearn