underage

adjective

un·​der·​age ˌən-dər-ˈāj How to pronounce underage (audio)
Synonyms of underagenext
1
: of less than mature or legal age
2
: done by or involving underage persons
underage drinking

Examples of underage in a Sentence

They were not allowed into the club because they were underage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eight states sued OpenAI this week, alleging that the AI company caused severe harm to users, many of them underage, while downplaying the risks of its technology. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026 Johnson did not show leniency toward Gardner, whose guilty plea enabled him to avoid a trial that likely could have resulted in testimony from his underage victims. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 During a recent visit to Ceuta, The Associated Press found many underage migrants still living on the streets. — Joseph Wilson, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026 Related Additionally, the states accuse OpenAI of collecting data from minors and not doing enough to keep underage users from using the chatbot. — Emma Roth, The Verge, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underage

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underage was in 1561

Browse Nearby Words

under a doctor's care
underage
underair
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underage. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

underage

adjective
un·​der·​age ˌən-də-ˈrāj How to pronounce underage (audio)
: of less than mature or legal age

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