shortfall

Everyday

An amount by which something is less than what is needed or expected: a shortfall of £50. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, shortfall = what you need − what you have: if a trip costs $200 and the class raised $165, the shortfall is $35. In news and business a shortfall in money, food or staff means not enough.

Examples

• The school has a shortfall of £500 for the new playground. tree →
• We needed 30 chairs but had 24 — a shortfall of 6. tree →
• A shortfall in rain caused a drought. tree →
• The charity had a shortfall in donations this year. tree →
• The hospital is facing a shortfall of nurses. tree →
• She covered the shortfall with her pocket money. tree →

Note

One word: short + fall. In maths: shortfall = target − actual (never negative; if actual is more, there is a surplus instead). Opposite: surplus.