Not fully grown or developed; less advanced economically, technologically, or physically than expected.
Prefix 'under-' (below, less than) plus 'developed' (from French 'developper,' to unwrap). Became common in post-WWII economic discussions about nations.
The term 'underdeveloped' was used after WWII to describe poorer nations, but it's problematic because it implies they're just 'backward versions' of wealthy countries rather than having their own different strengths!
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