understaffed

[uhn-der-staft, -stahft]

adjective

1. having an insufficient number of personnel.

   The hospital is understaffed.

understaffed

/ ˌʌndəˈstɑːft /

adjective

1. not having enough staff

   her department is understaffed

Word History and Origins

Origin of understaffed¹

First recorded in 1890–95; under- + staff ¹ + -ed ³

Example Sentences

As an outreach community worker for Thai restaurants, Nongnapus “Mild” Phuangthong of the Thai Community Development Center said that many businesses are understaffed and fearful ICE will target them next.

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“They are just understaffed and they don’t have the capacity.”

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Those moves have left the agency understaffed and morale low, they said.

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Ravina had to abruptly leave the understaffed clinic to find food for her other children.

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Death Valley National Park’s resource team has been understaffed for years, they said, but there are bright spots.

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