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View synonyms for

underpinning

[ uhn-der-pin-ing ]

noun

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

    to uncover the emotional underpinnings of an illness.

  3. underpinnings, Informal.
    1. underwear, especially women's underwear.
    2. the legs.


underpinning

/ ˈʌԻəˌɪɪŋ /

noun

  1. 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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of underpinning1

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

For one thing, such groups tend to have intellectual underpinning which means they write grammatical and properly spelled French.

From

Now, the court is clear that this exemption can continue; the rules underpinning women-only spaces can exclude people with gender recognition certificates.

From

It has been a tough few months for City and underpinning it all has been a managerial change.

From

On this side of the Atlantic, underpinning globalisation and free trade are the theories of 19th-Century British economist David Ricardo.

From

Ignoring these facts threatens "the legal underpinning of a host of climate regulations for motor vehicles, power plants and other pollution sources."

From

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