underpay
/ˌʌndəˈpeɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚpˈe] /ˌʌndərˈpeɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚpˈe] /ˌən-dər-ˈpā How to pronounce underpay (audio)/ (ame, mw)
underpay — verb
- underpaypresent simple I / you / we / they
- underpayshe / she / it
- underpaidpast simple
- underpaying-ing form
1. to give a worker or employee less money than what is fair, agreed upon, or legal
to give a worker or employee less money than what is fair, agreed upon, or legally required in exchange for their labor
The hotel chain was accused of underpaying its housekeeping staff for several years.
passive: be accused of underpaying [group]
Elena discovered she had been underpaid by roughly three hundred dollars each month.
underpay + person + by + amount
The farm owner admitted underpaying migrant workers during the harvest season.
Many part-time tutors felt they were underpaid for the lesson preparation they did at home.
Kwame left his first job because the company underpaid everyone and refused to discuss wages.
- undercompensate
more formal and broader — includes benefits and non-monetary compensation, not just salary
- under-reward
emphasises that the pay does not match the effort or value of the work done
- overpay
the direct opposite — to pay more than is fair or necessary
- compensate fairly
phrase-level antonym; what employers should do instead
文法句型
underpay + person/group
be/get underpaid + for [work]
underpay + person + by + amount
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be/get underpaid). The direct object is always the person or group, never the salary amount — the amount is introduced by 'by' (e.g., underpaid by $200). Distinguish from 'undercharge', which means to ask for too little payment for a product or service, not for labour.