Shortcoming/ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋ/ Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Self-Improvement Use 'shortcoming' when discussing areas of personal or professional growth. He identified punctuality as a shortcoming and worked to improve it. Pro Tip 2/3Constructive Criticism 'Shortcoming' often appears in feedback aiming to help someone improve. Her manager pointed out her organizational shortcomings during the evaluation. Pro Tip 3/3Humility Mentioning one's own shortcomings shows humility and self-awareness. In his speech, he humbly admitted his shortcomings as a leader.