shortfall

[shawrt-fawl]

noun

1. the quantity or extent by which something falls short; deficiency; shortage.

2. the act or fact of falling short.

shortfall

/ ˈʃɔːtˌfɔːl /

noun

1. failure to meet a goal or a requirement

2. the amount of such a failure; deficiency

   a shortfall of £30m

Word History and Origins

Origin of shortfall¹

1890–95; short + fall; from verb phrase fall short

Example Sentences

"The government is working quickly to mobilise resources and address shortfalls."

Read more on Barron's

The latest shortfall happened Wednesday afternoon when not enough workers showed up at Reagan Washington National Airport’s air-traffic control tower, prompting delays in the nation’s capital.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Big Four auditing shortfalls lessened in 2024 inspections, the reports for which were released in March, following two years of then-PCAOB Chair Erica Williams calling the results unacceptable.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Hundreds of others poured their own savings into their branch to make up apparent shortfalls in order to avoid prosecution.

Read more on BBC

Staffing shortfalls, the report said, meant too few employees were trained in essential roles of alert and warnings planning, and situational awareness.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deficiency 
• flaw 
• lack 
• loss 
• shortage 
• shortcoming