understaffed

[ uhn-der-staft, -stahft ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈstæft, -ˈstɑft /

adjective

having an insufficient number of personnel: The hospital is understaffed.

Nearby words

underslung, undersoil, undersparred, underspend, underspin, understaffed, understand, understandable, understanding, understate, understated

Origin of understaffed

First recorded in 1890–95; under- + staff¹ + -ed³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for understaffed

Fve pending nominees call Arizona home, all of whom were designated “judicial emergencies” to serve on understaffed courts.
The GOP’s Nuclear Winter Strategy|Eleanor Clift|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some stores are understaffed, and “that causes a poor experience for the customer.”
If Cosi Wants to Make a Profit, It Needs to Increase Wages|Daniel Gross|August 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When those entities were underfunded, understaffed, and marginalized, it encouraged an anything-goes environment.
The NFL Referees’ Strike Highlights Larger Truths About the U.S. Economy|Daniel Gross|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The police forces are understaffed, insufficiently trained, and ill-equipped.
India’s Tryst with Terror|Kanwal Sibal|September 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST

But I will say that according to other institutions, that this institution was also understaffed.
Warren Commission (1 of 26): Hearings Vol. I (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
The estate was understaffed, underfinanced, and the repairs were always in arrear.
Notwithstanding|Mary Cholmondeley
She says the school is understaffed and that the governors have consented to her obtaining some extra assistance.
Loyal to the School|Angela Brazil
As always, they were overworked and understaffed, they did their quick survey and rushed on to some new planet job.
Do Unto Others|Mark Clifton

British Dictionary definitions for understaffed

understaffed

/ (ˌʌndəˈstɑːft) /

adjective

not having enough staffher department is understaffed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012