short-handed

American  

[shawrt-han-did] / ˈʃɔrtˈhæn dɪd /

adjective

1. not having the usual or necessary number of workers, helpers, etc.

---

short-handed British  

adjective

1. lacking the usual or necessary number of assistants, workers, etc

2. sport with less than the full complement of players

---

Other Word Forms

• short-handedness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of short-handed

First recorded in 1615–25

Explanation

Being short-handed means not having the necessary number of people to help with something. If six friends promise to supervise your brother's birthday party with you but only two show up, you'll be seriously short-handed! Short-handed was first used in the 17th century to refer to a workplace that has an insufficient number of "hands," or workers. You can use it whenever you're in a situation where fewer people than normal show up or help out: "We were short-handed at the restaurant last night so I had to cook the burgers, deliver them to customers, and help wash the dishes!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

short-handed

It was also hard to fill open jobs after the pandemic, and businesses don’t want to get caught short-handed again.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

The short-handed Washington Wizards pulled off a 126-117 upset of the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026

It was Jan. 5, 2025, and I was marveling at the Rams gumption in their short-handed loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025

Others will have to make the mark, until then, if USC hopes to survive that stretch short-handed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025

Friday, she had to work straight through—a sixteen-hour shift—because the company was short-handed on account of an influenza epidemic.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith