Shortfall: meaning, definitions and examples

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shortfall

 

[ ˈʃɔːtfɔːl ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

financial

A shortfall is a situation in which the amount of something that is needed is not enough.

Synonyms

deficiency, deficit, shortage

Examples of usage

  • There is a shortfall in the budget this year.
  • The company is facing a significant shortfall in revenue.
  • We need to find a way to address the shortfall in funding for the project.
Context #2 | Noun

general

A shortfall is a failure to reach a particular level or target.

Synonyms

failure, gap, lack

Examples of usage

  • The team's performance fell short due to a shortfall in communication.
  • There was a significant shortfall in meeting the sales target.
  • The organization experienced a shortfall in meeting the deadline.

Translations

Translations of the word "shortfall" in other languages:

🇵🇹 déficit

🇮🇳 कमी

🇩🇪 Defizit

🇮🇩 kekurangan

🇺🇦 дефіцит

🇵🇱 niedobór

🇯🇵 不足 (fusoku)

🇫🇷 déficit

🇪🇸 déficit

🇹🇷 açık

🇰🇷 부족 (bujok)

🇸🇦 عجز (ajz)

🇨🇿 nedostatek

🇸🇰 nedostatok

🇨🇳 缺口 (quēkǒu)

🇸🇮 primanjkljaj

🇮🇸 skortur

🇰🇿 жетіспеушілік

🇬🇪 დეფიციტი (deficiti)

🇦🇿 çatışmazlıq

🇲🇽 déficit

Word origin

The term 'shortfall' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the combination of 'short' and 'fall'. It was initially used in financial contexts to describe a deficit or shortage of funds. Over time, the term has expanded to encompass any situation where there is a lack or failure to meet a specific requirement or target.

See also: short, shortage, shortbread, shortcomings, shortcut, shortcuts, shorten, shortened, shortening, shortenings, shortly, shortness, shortsighted.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,377, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.