adjective
shorthanded
Shorthanded (adjective) means not having enough staff or workers to operate normally. Example: “The restaurant was shorthanded on a Friday night, which meant slow service.”
adjective
1
Not having enough staff or workers to operate normally.
"The restaurant was shorthanded on a Friday night, which meant slow service."
2
In ice hockey, having fewer players on the ice than the opposing team, usually due to a penalty.
"He scored a shorthanded goal while his team was down a man."
How to use shorthanded
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMissing enough people to do the job properly — in hockey, playing with a man disadvantage.
Common pairings
shorthanded goal
badly shorthanded
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more shorthanded
- Superlative
- most shorthanded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The restaurant was _____ on a Friday night, which meant slow service.
Etymology
From short + handed.
Rhymes for shorthanded
See all rhymes for shorthanded →Frequently asked questions
What does “shorthanded” mean?
The word “shorthanded” means not having enough staff or workers to operate normally. In plain terms, missing enough people to do the job properly — in hockey, playing with a man disadvantage.
How do you use “shorthanded” in a sentence?
Here is “shorthanded” used in a sentence: “The restaurant was shorthanded on a Friday night, which meant slow service.”
What part of speech is “shorthanded”?
“Shorthanded” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “shorthanded” have?
“Shorthanded” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not having enough staff or workers to operate normally.
