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underfinanced

underfinanced

1 5.1
Not having enough money to do the work properly
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌndərˈfaɪnənst/
translation icon : subfinanciado
  • Many underfinanced, undersubscribed universities should be downsized back to colleges.

Examples

  • Many underfinanced startups have to find creative ways to attract investors and stay operational.

  • "Was there a better Ponzi scheme than the one that ensnarled countless underfinanced homeowners?"

    Blog text (12)
  • They won adherents by providing relief from the squalid conditions in Egypt's underfinanced but open-to-all universities.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The new initiative aims to support underfunded programs in schools that are underfinanced and struggling.

  • After years of relying on donations, the underfinanced art gallery finally received government support.

Synonyms

unfunded
vsunderfinanced
27 5.1

Does not have money to start or run a project

is used when lack of money affects ongoing operations rather than a single grant
underfunded
vsunderfinanced
8 5.0

Not having enough money to run a school or project

is about lacking enough money to operate effectively
undercapitalized
vsunderfinanced
  • Specialized
1 7.5

Not having enough money to run or grow a business

is about lacking money for regular operation rather than growth
uncapitalized
vsunderfinanced
8.1

Not having enough money to run or grow a business

is focused more on everyday operation money than on investment levels
unfinanced
vsunderfinanced
5.8

A project that has no money to pay for it

implies ongoing operational shortfall rather than only missing initial money
nonfunded
vsunderfinanced
5.7

Not given money to pay for it

refers to lacking money to operate effectively rather than missing occasional support

How Funded

funded
3.2
underfinanced
1 5.1
unfunded
27 5.1

Surface Forms

underfinanced positive

Morphology

underfinanced = financed (transparent) = under + finance + ed

Formed by the productive prefix 'under-' meaning 'insufficient' + the participial adjective 'financed', so the meaning 'insufficiently funded' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Underfinanced comes from under- meaning 'not enough' and finance meaning 'money for a project'. So, underfinanced describes something that does not have enough money to work properly.