underdog

noun

The person or team that people expect to lose a contest.

Example sentences

“The underdog surprised everyone by winning the championship.”
“The small-town team entered the playoffs as the underdog.”

Usually sympathetic: crowds and voters 'root for the underdog'. The expected winner is the favorite.

Synonyms for underdog

long shot

Antonyms

favorite
frontrunner

Related words

baseballA team sport in which players hit a ball with a bat and run around four bases to score.rematchA second game or contest between the same two opponents.volleyballA sport in which two teams of two to six players hit a ball back and forth across a net on a rectangular court.stretchTo reach out or extend your arms, legs, or body to loosen your muscles, especially before or after exercise.handballA team game in which two sides of seven players each throw and bounce a ball, trying to get it into the other team's goal.exercisePhysical activity done to keep the body, and sometimes the mind, strong and healthy.