Word Explorer

Shortage

A lack or deficiency; an insufficient amount.

📖 Definitions of "Shortage"

noun
  1. 1

    A lack or deficiency; an insufficient amount.

🔄 Synonyms of "Shortage"

4 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

WordDefinition
dearthnoun(by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply.
deficitnounA situation wherein, or amount whereby, spending exceeds (e.g. government) revenue.
shortfallnounThe amount by which such a quota, obligation, etc., was missed.
faminenoun(uncountable) Extreme shortage of food in a region.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Shortage"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
deficitnounA situation wherein, or amount whereby, spending exceeds (e.g. government) revenue.
dearthnoun(by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply.
faminenoun(uncountable) Extreme shortage of food in a region.
shortfallnounThe amount by which such a quota, obligation, etc., was missed.
deficiencynoun(countable) An insufficiency, especially of something essential to health.
poornoun(with the) The poor people of a society or the world collectively, the poor class of a society.
deficientnounLacking something essential; often construed with in.
povertynounThe quality or state of being poor; lack of money
insufficiencynounThe lack of sufficiency: a shortage, the state of having or being not enough (of something).
penurynoun(uncountable) Extreme need or want; destitution, poverty; (countable) an instance of this.
inadequacynounA lack of competence or ability.
lacknounA deficiency or need (of something desirable or necessary); an absence, want, dearth.
underfundingnounThe condition of being underfunded.
shortcomingnounA deficiency or falling short; failure to attain a goal or ideal.
insufficientNot sufficient; of a type or kind that does not suffice, that does not satisfy requirements or needs.
scarcitynoun(uncountable) The condition of something being scarce or deficient.
failurenounState or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
underemploymentnounThe condition of being underemployed.
inadequatenounA person who is inadequate.
scarcenounA surname.

Words Strongly Associated with "Shortage"

These words statistically appear in the same text as "shortage" (Google Books Ngrams).

🎨 Adjectives for "Shortage"

Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.

📝 Common Phrases with "Shortage"

Words that come before

Words that come after

🌐 Broader and Narrower Concepts

Translate “Shortage” into Another Language

Pick a language — the word will be pre-filled in the translator.

🔗 Explore Related Words

Home/Dictionary/Shortage