shortage

The word “shortage” means a situation where there is not enough of something needed. In plain terms, not having enough of something.

“Shortage” is pronounced SHAW-tihj (/ˈʃɔː(ɹ)tɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

Here is “shortage” used in a sentence: “The hospital is dealing with a severe staff shortage.”

The opposite of “shortage” — its antonyms — are glut, mountain and surplus.

“Shortage” is a noun.

“Shortage” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

A shortage is a situation where there is not enough of something needed, while a surplus is the opposite: more than enough, or an excess. A water shortage means too little water; a water surplus means too much.

Scarcity is a general, often long-term limited availability of a resource, while a shortage is usually a specific, temporary gap where demand exceeds available supply. A shortage can be short-lived, whereas scarcity describes an ongoing condition.

A shortage is a lack of enough of something needed, such as staff, housing, or food. A deficit is the measured amount by which something falls short, most often used of money, as when spending exceeds income.

Shortage frequently appears in phrases such as "labour shortage," "housing shortage," "water shortage," "food shortage," and "staff shortage." It usually follows the type of thing that is lacking.