lowly

/ˈloʊli/

/ˈlʌʊli/

Other forms: lowliest; lowlier; lowlily

Lowly things aren't considered to be important or impressive. Your lowly position on a sports team might make you best suited to carry all of the players' equipment.

When a person is described as lowly, the world often refers to their job or social class. A lowly janitor might not get as much respect as the CEO of a huge company, even if she's a kinder person. A lowly member of an AAA baseball team might only dream about joining the major leagues. The adjective lowly has been around since the 14th century, from low, "not high," and also "humble in rank."

Definitions of lowly

1. adjective

   low or inferior in station or quality
   “a lowly parish priest”

   synonyms: humble, low, modest, small

   inferior

   of or characteristic of low rank or importance
2. adjective

   inferior in rank or status
   “a lowly corporal”

   synonyms: junior-grade, lower-ranking, petty, secondary, subaltern

   junior

   younger; lower in rank; shorter in length of tenure or service
3. adjective

   of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)
   synonyms: base, baseborn, humble

   lowborn

   of humble birth or origins
4. adjective

   used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)
   synonyms: humble, menial

   unskilled

   not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency