undervalue

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to regard a person, quality, or contribution as less important or worthy than it really is

   For years, the industry undervalued the work of its technical staff.

2. 2
   verb

   to assign a price or monetary value that is lower than the true or fair value

   The initial offer undervalued the company by several million dollars.

Formed in English from under- ('below the proper amount') + value. Value came through Old French value from valoir, 'be worth,' ultimately from Latin valere, 'be strong or be worth.' The compound can refer either to a price set too low or to insufficient recognition of someone's worth.

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