plural shortages
: a state in which there is not enough of something that is needed
a gasoline/water shortage
—often + ofa shortage of cash/gasoline/teachers/water
There is no shortage of restaurants [=there are many restaurants] in the city.
(chiefly Brit)
periods of food shortage
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/shortage. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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