deficiency
Americannoun
plural
deficiencies-
the state of being deficient; lack; incompleteness; insufficiency.
- Synonyms:
- scarcity, paucity, inadequacy, shortage
-
the amount lacked; a deficit.
noun
-
the state or quality of being deficient
-
a lack or insufficiency; shortage
-
another word for deficit
-
biology the absence of a gene or a region of a chromosome normally present
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deficiency
First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin dēficientia, Latin dēficient- (stem of dēficiēns ); see origin at deficient, -ency
Explanation
A deficiency is an insufficient amount of something. If you feel sluggish and tired all day, you might have an iron deficiency, meaning you aren't eating enough iron-rich foods. You are most likely to hear the word deficiency in regard to health, like a sleep deficiency. But you can use deficiency to describe other kinds of lack — a deficiency of fun that occurred while your friends were out of town. Deficiency also means a failure or shortcoming, like a deficiency in math class, which might result in a notice from school — known as a deficiency — being mailed to your home.
Vocabulary lists containing deficiency
Freak the Mighty
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Flowers for Algernon
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Paltry Parlance: Synonyms for "Few"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Kenny says she has had "many conversations" with athletes suffering with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport.
From BBC • Dec. 13, 2023
Deficiency of G-CSF also protected against retinopathy, suggesting wide-ranging protection.
From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2023
The "Deficiency Realm" human existence is a potent force.
From Scientific American • May 3, 2020
And the Immune Deficiency Foundation put out a statement in July saying doctors should find suitable alternative medicines.
From Washington Post • Nov. 1, 2019
Deficiency of nutrition, of light and of pure air may be mentioned as common causes of anæmia.
From Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why What Medical Writers Say by Allen, Martha Meir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
