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shortage

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈʃɔːrtɪdʒ/ · UK /ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ/

Forms: shortages

shortage means: A situation in which there is less of something than people need.

noun

NOT ENOUGHB1

A situation in which there is less of something than people need.

  • There is a water shortage.
  • The school closed because of a staff shortage.
  • Will the fuel shortage affect bus services?

How to use it: a shortage of something (There is a shortage of nurses in this area.)

Similar words: lack, scarcity, shortfall

Opposites: surplus, abundance

Common phrases: water shortage, staff shortage, shortage of something, food shortage

Questions about shortage

What does shortage mean?

A situation in which there is less of something than people need.

What is shortage in other languages?

Türkçe: kıtlık · Español: escasez · Français: pénurie · Deutsch: Mangel · Italiano: carenza · 日本語: 不足

How do you pronounce shortage?

In American English /ˈʃɔːrtɪdʒ/; in British English /ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ/.

How do you use shortage in a sentence?

There is a water shortage. The school closed because of a staff shortage.

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shortage in other languages

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