short-staffed

adjective

: having fewer than the usual number of people available
The department is short-staffed.
a short-staffed hospital

Examples of short-staffed in a Sentence

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.
The short-staffed department has ended up spending millions on overtime — and potentially putting it on the hook for costlier future payouts. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025 The flu is not only taking its toll on the ill but also leaving millions of work teams short-staffed. Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 Managers often worry about filling open shifts, which can leave businesses short-staffed. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 18 Jan. 2025 Emergency responders, including MoDOT, were short-staffed yesterday, said Justin Ewing, a spokesperson for the Missouri State Highway Patrol in the Kansas City area. Alecia Taylor, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for short-staffed 

Dictionary Entries Near short-staffed

Cite this Entry

“Short-staffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-staffed. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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