Meaning & use

lowball

verb·Everyday

To deliberately offer or estimate an amount that is lower than what is fair or expected.

See it in a sentence

The contractor tried to lowball the estimate just to win the bid, then added hidden fees.

Buyers often lowball their first offer, expecting the seller to negotiate upward.

A note on using this word

Lowball can also be used as an adjective, as in a lowball offer, describing the unfairly low amount itself.

Words with a similar meaning

underbid

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

overpay

Make it your own

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