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.
Delayed by wars, politics and funding shortfalls, Sagrada Família’s imposing but unfinished presence has dominated Barcelona’s skyline for decades. CNN Money, 8 June 2026 While campaigning for mayor in 2024, then-councilman Balch and his supporters questioned Beaudin’s financial accounting and the city’s shortfalls. Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 7 June 2026 That's creating a shortfall in reservations. Brandon Truitt, CBS News, 6 June 2026 According to Richardson, the new amphitheater — managed by Legends Global, but owned by the city — will help cover that shortfall. Clay Marshall, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortfall. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on shortfall

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster