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

Other financially strained districts, including Los Angeles Unified, have also made staffing cuts amid budget shortfalls, laying off hundreds of employees. — Chaewon Chung updated September 15, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Earlier this year, Metrolink made service cuts due to budget shortfalls, mechanical issues and supply constraints. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Closing the pay gap alone expands the payroll tax base enough to cover one-third of the Social Security funding shortfall. — Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

The closure of the East-West pipeline will exacerbate an already dire shortfall of oil worldwide, some analysts told ABC News. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 14 Sep. 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