Underling
noun
A person of lower rank who has to listen to and obey someone more powerful.
He was just an underling and had to do what his boss ordered.
Often appears as...
- corporate underling
- political underling
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person of lower rank who has to listen to and obey someone more powerful.
He was just an underling and had to do what his boss ordered.
Often appears as...
- corporate underling
- political underling
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Professional Context
Used in workplaces to describe employees lower in the hierarchy.
In the meeting, the director clarified the strategy to the underlings.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Can suggest that someone is not important or lacks power.
She felt like an underling, rarely given important tasks.
Pro Tip 3/3Obedience Implied
Suggests that the person must follow orders without question.
The executive's underlings executed the plan without debate.
Compare with
assistantattendantfollowerhenchmanlackeyminionservantsubordinate
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Quote examples
Lisa Lutz
American Author
For more than three months, I had been president and primary owner of Spellman Investigations, and I can say with complete certainty that I had more power in this office as an underling. My title, it seemed, was purely decorative. I was captain of an unfashionable and sinking ship.
Quote examples
Lisa Lutz
American Author
For more than three months, I had been president and primary owner of Spellman Investigations, and I can say with complete certainty that I had more power in this office as an underling. My title, it seemed, was purely decorative. I was captain of an unfashionable and sinking ship.
Example 1 of 1
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