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.
Now, district and school board officials are considering reversing that rollback in order to raise the district’s levy rate and bring in some extra revenue during the shortfall. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026 And there are communities across our state that are facing budget shortfalls, which also affect our workers, our first responders, our police, our fire, our teachers. — Kelly Evans, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Funding shortfalls and political fights over who should pay for childcare have stalled federal action, leaving states to deploy one-off surpluses while families’ need and waitlists keep swelling. — Moriah Balingit, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Ashleigh Johnson, a mother of four in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, said her kids were pushed into an overcrowded school when the district was forced to close its elementary school because of budget shortfalls and declining enrollment. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 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

Rhymes for shortfall

See All Rhymes for shortfall

Browse Nearby Words

short ess
shortfall
short-fed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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