understaffed
|un/der/staffed|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərˈstæft/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˈstɑːft/
(understaff)
insufficient staff
Etymology
Etymology Information
'understaffed' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' or 'not enough' and the word 'staff,' which refers to the personnel of an organization.
Historical Evolution
'understaffed' evolved from the combination of 'under-' and 'staff' in modern English to describe a situation where there are not enough staff members.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having insufficient staff,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having fewer staff members than necessary to operate effectively.
The hospital was understaffed during the holiday season.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/08 00:21