Synonyms

underpinning

American

[uhn-der-pin-ing] / ˈʌn dərˌpɪn ɪŋ /

noun

a system of supports beneath a wall or the like.
Often underpinnings. a foundation or basis.

to uncover the emotional underpinnings of an illness.
Informal. underpinnings,
1. underwear, especially women's underwear.
2. the legs.

underpinning British

/ ˈʌndəˌpɪnɪŋ /

noun

a structure of masonry, concrete, etc, placed beneath a wall to provide support

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of underpinning

First recorded in 1480–90; under + pin + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Epic Games' ambition for Unreal Engine is not limited to underpinning large swaths of the game industry.

From Barron's

“It is making investors question the fundamental underpinning of the profitability of a lot of industries.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But before building ever-faster defensive agents, we must address a deeper vulnerability: Much of the software underpinning critical systems today is poorly understood by its own operators.

From The Wall Street Journal

Much of the debate around the data underpinning the quiet revival centres on the differing survey methods used by different researchers.

From BBC

And underpinning the team are two key things - total honesty and trust.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023