deficient

[dih-fish-uhnt]

adjective

1. lacking some element or characteristic; defective.

   deficient in taste.

2. insufficient; inadequate.

   deficient knowledge.

noun

1. a person who is deficient, especially one who is mentally defective.

deficient

/ dɪˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. lacking some essential; incomplete; defective

2. inadequate in quantity or supply; insufficient

Other Word Forms

• deficiently adverb
• nondeficient adjective
• nondeficiently adverb
• predeficient adjective
• predeficiently adverb
• undeficient adjective
• undeficiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deficient¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin dēficient-, stem of dēficiēns “failing,” present participle of dēficere “to fail, run short, lack, weaken,” from dē- de- + ficere, combining form of facere “to do, make” ( do ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of deficient¹

C16: from Latin dēficiēns lacking, from dēficere to fall short; see _defect

Example Sentences

The AG’s office has used that power to publish annual reports on conditions inside detention centers, including one this year that alleged deficient mental health care.

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"That group is much less because, what we find, the state pension system works well - whereas the benefits system is still deficient," he said.

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Attorney Mark Zaid called the firing “legally deficient,” as she can only be fired directly by the president.

Read more on Salon

But on Wednesday, the High Court ruled that these inquiries were "deficient", ordering a new "robust" investigation.

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Yvette Cooper, who is responsible for the Security Service, made a written statement to Parliament a day after the High Court ruled MI5's explanations for its false evidence were deficient and unreliable.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• defective 
• faulty 
• flawed 
• impaired 
• incomplete 
• inferior 
• insufficient 
• lacking 
• scarce 
• skimpy 
• unsatisfactory 
• weak