Outmanned is spelled as /aʊtˈmænd/. It is composed of the prefix "out-" which means "to a greater degree than" or "beyond" and the verb "man" which means "to equip, furnish, or provide with personnel or workers". Together, they mean to be overwhelmed or overpowered due to inadequate personnel or resources. The pronunciation is an "ow" sound, followed by the "t" and "m" sounds. The stress is on the "man" syllable which is denoted by the apostrophe.
Outmanned is an adjective that describes a situation where one group of individuals or a particular side of a conflict is overwhelmed or overpowered by the number of opponents or adversaries they face. The term is often used in military or strategic contexts, but it can also be applied to various situations where physical or numerical strength is a determining factor.
When referring to military situations, being outmanned implies that a military force is outnumbered and lacks the manpower to effectively engage or defend against their opponents. This can greatly impact strategic decisions and may place the outmanned group at a disadvantage. In such cases, the outmanned party may need to rely on alternative tactics or approaches to compensate for their numerical inferiority.
Furthermore, the term can extend beyond military contexts to describe situations where individuals or groups are confronted with overwhelming odds in various domains, such as sports, business, or even personal interactions. In these scenarios, being outmanned suggests that one side lacks the necessary resources, support, or strength to compete or succeed.
Overall, being outmanned signifies an inherent disadvantage due to numerical inferiority or inadequate resources, emphasizing the need for the outmanned group to find creative solutions or alternative strategies to overcome the overwhelming odds they face.
The word "outmanned" originates from the combination of two English words: "out" and "manned".
The term "out" is used as a preposition or an adverb, indicating movement away or beyond a place, position, or condition. It implies being outside of or surpassing something in some way.
The word "manned" is the past participle of the verb "man" and is derived from the Old English word "mann". It stems from the Proto-Germanic word "mannaz", which means "man" or "person". In this context, "man" refers to a human being or an individual.
When these words are combined, "outmanned" is formed. It is used as a past participle adjective to describe a situation or scenario where one side or group has fewer people, particularly men, than their opponents or competitors.