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.
Washington devised emergency spending mechanisms during the financial crisis and the pandemic; today, the country faces a defense shortfall of similar consequence. Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024 American energy exports have made up much of the Russian shortfall thanks to the shale revolution. Daniel Markind, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Facing upwards of a $1 billion shortfall, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is proposing an austere budget plan for the next fiscal year that includes widespread spending cuts across state government. John Frank, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024 According to the report, water infrastructure in the U.S. has an annual shortfall of $91 billion in public spending. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 28 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near shortfall

Cite this Entry

“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortfall. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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