shortageshort·age /ˈʃɔːtɪdʒˈʃɔːr-/ noun [countableC, uncountableU] a situation in which there is not enough of something that people need or wantWe suffer from a labor shortage.
The real estate developer is facing an acute cash shortage.
shortage ofThere was an energy crisis caused by a shortage of imported oil.
There will be no shortage of applicants (=there will be a lot).