deficit

[def-uh-sit, dih-fis-it]

noun

1. the amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required amount.

2. the amount by which expenditures or liabilities exceed income or assets.

3. a lack or shortage; deficiency.

4. a disadvantage, impairment, or handicap.

   The team's major deficit is its poor pitching.

5. a loss, as in the operation of a business.

deficit

/ ˈdɛfɪsɪt, dɪˈfɪsɪt /

noun

1. the amount by which an actual sum is lower than that expected or required

2. 1. an excess of liabilities over assets

   2. an excess of expenditures over revenues during a certain period

   3. an excess of payments over receipts on the balance of payments

deficit

1. A shortage, especially the amount by which a sum of money falls short of what is required; a debt.

Other Word Forms

• superdeficit noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deficit¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from Latin dēficit “(it) lacks,” 3rd-person singular present of dēficere “to fail, run short, lack, weaken”; deficient

Word History and Origins

Origin of deficit¹

C18: from Latin, literally: there is lacking, from dēficere to be lacking

Example Sentences

The Dodgers were on their way to a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night, the Game 5 result placing them at a three-games-to-two deficit in this World Series.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The President has used that law to impose tariffs willy-nilly, claiming the U.S. trade deficit, fentanyl trafficking, or anything else he can conjure is a “national emergency.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There remains no settled science on a causal link between Tylenol and autism or attention deficit disorder.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Besides his bearish opinion on tech, given his stance on inflation and unsustainable deficits, he also doesn’t like bonds and thinks credit spreads are unjustifiably tight given the deteriorating economic outlook.

Read more on MarketWatch

Giroux worries that enormous U.S. budget deficits mean long-term Treasury yields could remain stubbornly high, even if the Fed cuts short-term rates.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• loss 
• shortfall