short-handed

[shawrt-han-did]

adjective

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

short-handed

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of short-handed¹

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

Chief executive Jeremy Dale pulled pints at the final home game against Mansfield in April, while director Andrew Shanahan jumped behind the bar to help short-handed staff earlier in the season.

From BBC

Jackson not only left Chelsea short-handed at Newcastle, he will now miss those pivotal final games that could shape so many futures at Stamford Bridge.

From BBC

Nearly two months later, Bronny was scoring 17 in a short-handed loss to Milwaukee, quietly handling his rare success with humility and grace, cementing what everyone had come to believe.

From Los Angeles Times

The pitching staff was never fully healthy, with absences wreaking havoc throughout the year and leaving the team short-handed by the start of the postseason.

From Los Angeles Times

Lue wasn’t going to accept any excuses, even if the Clippers were playing short-handed because of a trade made earlier in the day.

From Los Angeles Times