shortage Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required
    shortfall; deficit.
    • new blood vessels bud out from the already dilated vascular bed to make up the nutritional deficit
  2. noun an acute insufficiency
    famine; dearth.

WordNet


Short"age noun
Definitions
  1. Amount or extent of deficiency, as determined by some requirement or standard; as, a shortage in money accounts.

Webster 1913