shortage

[ shawr-tij ]

noun

1. a deficiency in quantity:

   a shortage of cash.

   Synonyms: lack, scarcity, want

2. the amount of such deficiency.

shortage

/ ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ /

noun

1. a deficiency or lack in the amount needed, expected, or due; deficit

Other Words From

• pre·shortage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shortage¹

First recorded in 1865–70; short + -age

Example Sentences

The Interior Department released four alternatives for new long-term rules aimed at dealing with potential shortages after 2026, when the current operating rules expire.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Dujarric said access to the three barely functional hospitals there also remained severely restricted, amid what he called "desperate shortages" of medical supplies and fuel.

From BBC

There was no shortage of available data to search for patterns in malformations and symptoms to identify subtypes for which treatment protocols could be devised.

From Science Daily

Experts have questioned the success of the offensive, with one calling it a "strategic catastrophe" given manpower shortages faced by Ukraine.

From BBC

But some business leaders warn that such a move could prompt labor shortages and price increases, and disrupt legal immigration.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dearth
• deficit
• failure
• lack
• poverty
• scarcity
• shortfall
• weakness