shortfall

noun

short·​fall ˈshȯrt-ˌfȯl How to pronounce shortfall (audio)
Synonyms of shortfallnext
: 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.
And while the game went off without a hitch, the associated police overtime contributed to a significant budget shortfall, as did a late January snowstorm. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025 Many of the 75 parents, students and teachers who signed up to speak asked the district to pause the closings to allow more time to look at alternatives and raise money to help stave off a budget shortfall. Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Dec. 2025 The coalition says the Thruway Authority’s move bypassed the public process normally used for toll adjustments and comes after the state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office flagged $276 million in unpaid tolls and collection shortfalls. Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2025 Sacramento is also facing a structural budget deficit, with projections indicating a $60 million shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 11 Dec. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortfall. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

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