shortfall

noun

short·​fall ˈshȯrt-ˌfȯl 

: a failure to come up to expectation or need

a budget shortfall

also : the amount of such failure

a $2 million shortfall

Examples of shortfall in a Sentence

a shortfall in milk production

Recent Examples on the Web

County officials reported a financial shortfall of more than $35 million this year and eliminated 150 positions in June to help balance the budget. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Osceola faces a $100 million budget shortfall and has drained most of its reserve funds. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Mejia cited ongoing revenue shortfalls, liability payouts and departmental overspending as the key reasons for the ballooning budget, which has grown by about 25% over the last four years. — Jenny Jarvie follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

The disruption of exports of petroleum, fertilizer, and helium has contributed to inflation, portends crop shortfalls, and even threatens computer chip shortages in countries around the world. — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shortfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale