adjective
understaffed
adjective
1
Not having enough staff to do the work properly.
"The hospital was badly understaffed during the night shift."
How to Use Understaffed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort on workers relative to how much needs to be done.
Common pairings
chronically understaffed
understaffed and overworked
Word Forms
more understaffed comparative, most understaffed superlative
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The hospital was badly _____ during the night shift.
Etymology
From under- plus staffed.