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Definition of underachievement
underachievement
/ˌʌndərəˈtʃiːvmənt/
un · der · a · chieve · ment
Plural:underachievements
•Adjective:underachieving
underachievement Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
Syllables
5
• noun
1
The state or act of performing less well than expected or below one's natural ability, especially in academic work or a professional career.
Example
"The school counselors met to discuss the causes of chronic underachievement among gifted students."
• Rhymes for underachievement
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Underachievement. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/underachievement