Meanings
comparative more understaffed · superlative most understaffed
- having an inadequate number of workers or assistants
At Southall, we believe, it has been difficult to spare men from an understaffed motive power establishment to undergo non revenue-earning training on the diesel multiple-units, because crews are scarce for trip freight working.
1960 April, “Talking of Trains: The present difficulties”, in Trains Illustrated, page 193Synonyms: shorthanded, short-staffed, undermanned
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivehaving an inadequate number of workers or assistants
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveinadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁entér
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂én
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-?
- Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰí
- Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰér
- Proto-Germanic*under
- Proto-West Germanic*undar
- Old Englishunder-
- Middle Englishunder-
- Englishunder-
- Englishstaffed
- Englishunderstaffed
Translations
Polish z brakami personalnymi
- z brakami personalnymihaving an inadequate number of workers or assistants
Cite this entry
understaffed. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/understaffed
“understaffed.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/understaffed. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “understaffed,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/understaffed.
Source: understaffed on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.