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

Against that backdrop, pupils' complaints that education funding shortfalls are endangering their futures have found a sympathetic audience. — Nicolas Garriga, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Against that backdrop, pupils’ complaints that education funding shortfalls are endangering their futures have found a sympathetic audience. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Ukraine fighting Russia invasion by targeting oil refining With winter coming, fuel shortfalls could put Vladimir Putin’s regime on its heels. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026

As Metrolink faces budget shortfalls and service reductions, the regional commuter rail network is raising its ticket prices on Monday for the first time in 13 years by as much as 27%. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 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