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.
The budget shortfall has been exacerbated by a decline in births and a reduction of immigration, resulting in fewer taxpayers at the same time that many Baby Boomers have begun receiving benefits. Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 July 2026 Regan declined to rule out future taxes on billionaires to plug what SEIU-UHW estimates to be an annual $20 billion shortfall caused by federal cuts. Ben Paviour july 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 The bloc’s goods deficit with China grew 15% to €360 billion ($410 billion) last year, with all 27 member states experiencing a shortfall, and expanded to €98 billion in the first quarter, the highest since 2022. Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026 But 14 million to 20 million showed up, a shortfall attributed to the media reports about the violence Rizzo was predicting. Chris Brennan, USA Today, 2 July 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortfall. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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