shortfall

noun

short·​fall ˈshȯrt-ˌfȯl How to pronounce shortfall (audio)
Synonyms of shortfallnext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If there’s a shortfall, lenders generally spread out the extra cost across 12 months, pushing your monthly payment up. Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 17 May 2026 But industry experts say restaurants are making up for the revenue shortfall in other ways. Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026 Those staffing shortfalls were exacerbated by DHS policies, including a directive that discouraged early release of elderly and sick detainees, and the gutting of oversight offices meant to flag safety risks and help hold immigration officials and contractors accountable for missteps. Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026 But a report published last year forecast future shortfalls that are projected to range into hundreds of millions of dollars, mainly due to rising pension costs. Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortfall

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shortfall was in 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortfall. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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