What does "shortfall" mean?

An instance of falling short, of not meeting a quota, an obligation, or more generally any expected target.

What is a synonym for "shortfall"?

Common synonyms include: deficit, shortage, absence, arrear, arrearage, arrears.

noun

noun ·2 syllables ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
An instance of falling short, of not meeting a quota, an obligation, or more generally any expected target.
"Due to a shortfall in revenue, we will have to make some cuts."
2
the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required wordnet
3
The amount by which such a quota, obligation, etc., was missed.

"A budget deficit will occur because of a revenue shortfall."

Deverbal from fall short. By surface analysis, short + fall.