un·der·dog

[uhn-der-dawg, -dog]
noun
1.
a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict.
2.
a victim of social or political injustice: The underdogs were beginning to organize their protests.

Origin:
1875–80, Americanism; under- + dog1

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
underdog (ˈʌndəˌdɒɡ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  the competitor least likely to win a fight or contest
2.  a person in adversity or in a position of inferiority

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Underdog is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

underdog
"the beaten dog in a fight," 1887, from under + dog. Cf. top dog "dominant person in a situation or hierarchy."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Because it does encourage and embrace the underdog, as opposed to being cut
  down if you don't look a certain way.
If your heart is with the underdog than you should make a real effort to find
  out why he's the underdog.
Reducing fees and the option to file provisional applications help the underdog
  without hindering the big companies.
Eventually, he called the fight a draw, although the company clearly supported
  the tenacity of the underdog.
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