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

The college also suffered multi-million-dollar financial shortfalls, some tied to the misuse of bond money and state funds. — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Their analysis found that systems designed around historic climate conditions could experience up to a fivefold increase in energy shortfalls by 2050. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026

Swan said in June that FIFA’s cancellations were a major driver for why the local hotel industry was facing a room reservation shortfall during the biggest sporting event in the world. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026

That means an 11% cut in spending or substantial tax increases will be needed to cover the shortfall, said Ciannah Correa and Erica Socker in a blog last month for Georgetown University's Medicare Policy Initiative. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 16 July 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