shortcoming

C2+ Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈʃɔrtˌkʌmɪŋ/ UK /ˈʃɔːtˌkʌmɪŋ/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
a fault or failure to meet a standard; a defect

Despite its shortcomings, the plan was approved.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a fault or failure to meet... fault flaw defect weakness failing deficiency

Opposites

strength merit virtue asset

Word family

Related forms short come shortfall

Etymology

A native compound of short and the gerund coming, in the sense of 'coming short of' a standard; short is from Old English sceort, and come from Old English cuman.

sceort Old English cuman Old English

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Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

# shortcoming

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈʃɔrtˌkʌmɪŋ
**IPA (UK):** ˈʃɔːtˌkʌmɪŋ

## Meanings
1. a fault or failure to meet a standard; a defect

## Examples
- Despite its shortcomings, the plan was approved.

## Synonyms
- fault
- flaw
- defect
- weakness
- failing
- deficiency

## Antonyms
- strength
- merit
- virtue
- asset

## Related Forms
- short
- come
- shortfall

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: sceort
- Root: cuman

## Etymology
A native compound of short and the gerund coming, in the sense of 'coming short of' a standard; short is from Old English sceort, and come from Old English cuman.

## AI Etymology
Shortcoming is a native compound of short and the gerund coming, in the sense of 'coming short of' a standard; short is from Old English sceort, and come from Old English cuman. The compound structure is semantically important: one element narrows the setting, direction, or quality, and the other supplies the object, action, or base idea. As a noun, it denotes "a fault or failure to meet a standard; a defect", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Old English sceort and Old English cuman. Related words include short, come, shortfall.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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shortcoming

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