underestimations
|un-der-es-ti-ma-tion-s|
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərɛstəˈmeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˌrɛstɪˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/
(underestimation)
estimating something too low
Etymology
'underestimation' originates from English components 'under-' + 'estimation', where 'under-' meant 'below' or 'insufficient' and 'estimation' comes from Latin 'aestimatio' (from 'aestimare') meaning 'a valuing or appraisal'.
'underestimation' was formed in modern English by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ation' to the verb 'underestimate' (which itself was created from 'under-' + 'estimate'). The verb 'estimate' entered English via Old French 'estimer' from Latin 'aestimare'.
Originally the root idea (from Latin 'aestimare') was simply 'to value' or 'assess'; over time 'underestimate' developed the specific sense 'to assess as too low,' and 'underestimation' has come to mean both the act of assessing too low and the resulting insufficient estimate.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an estimate that is lower than the actual value; a calculation or judgment that underreports size, cost, extent, or importance.
Many of the project's early underestimations of cost caused delays later on.
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Noun 2
the act or habit of estimating something as less or less important than it actually is; a failure to appreciate true ability, risk, or scope.
Their repeated underestimations of the competitor's strengths cost them market share.
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Last updated: 2025/12/25 03:57