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shortfall

noun

short·​fall ˈshȯrt-ˌfȯl How to pronounce shortfall (audio)
: 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.
For example, the median boomer is projected to need to replace about a third of their pre-retirement income through private and employer retirement savings, facing a shortfall of roughly $9,000 (or a quarter of their expenses). Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025 Despite the shortfall in public funding, Kantamanto Market was open for business within three months of the fire. Bella Webb, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025 The shortfall stems from rising costs for the memory chips that go into computers, a jump which is blunting the benefits of a sales cycle for PCs. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025 Plus, the state government budget has another huge shortfall. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025 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 1 Dec. 2025.

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