shortage

American  

[shawr-tij] / ˈʃɔr tɪdʒ /

noun

1. a deficiency in quantity.

   a shortage of cash.

   Synonyms:

   lack, scarcity, want

2. the amount of such deficiency.

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shortage British  

/ ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ /

noun

1. a deficiency or lack in the amount needed, expected, or due; deficit

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Other Word Forms

• preshortage noun

Etymology

Origin of shortage

First recorded in 1865–70; short + -age

Compare meaning

How does shortage compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• scarcity vs. shortage

Example Sentences

Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid, who isn’t a voting member this year but dissented against prior cuts, suggested structural labor shortages mean even modest job growth could push unemployment lower over time.

From Barron's

Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid, who isn’t a voting member this year but dissented against prior cuts, suggested structural labor shortages mean even modest job growth could push unemployment lower over time.

From Barron's

Within the U.S., however, there is a shortage of gas pipelines.

From MarketWatch

“By leveraging our operational excellence, we effectively navigated market challenges of component cost increases and supply shortages,” Lenovo Chairman and Chief Executive Yuanqing Yang said.

From The Wall Street Journal

She added she was unaware of the shortage in PPE across the country at the time.

From BBC

Related Words

• dearth
• deficit
• failure
• lack
• poverty
• scarcity
• shortfall
• weakness