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Definition of shortage

shortage

/ˈʃɔːrtɪdʒ/
short · age
Plural:shortages
•
Adjective:short
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shortage Lexical Profile

shortage Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts; a lack or deficiency.

Example

"The prolonged drought caused a severe water shortage across the agricultural region."

2

The specific amount or quantity by which a sum of money, inventory, or shipment falls short of what is required or expected.

Example

"The store manager audited the registers after discovering a hundred-dollar shortage at the end of the shift."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for shortage

• Nearby Words

short-horned lizard
short-snouted sea snake
short-tailed snake
shortage
shortbread
shortcake
shortchange

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century in American English from the adjective 'short' (from Old English 'scort') and the noun-forming suffix '-age'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shortage. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shortage
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