deficiency

American  

[dih-fish-uhn-see] / dɪˈfɪʃ ən si /

Obsolete, deficience

noun

plural

deficiencies

1. the state of being deficient; lack; incompleteness; insufficiency.

   Synonyms:

   scarcity, paucity, inadequacy, shortage

2. the amount lacked; a deficit.

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deficiency British  

/ dɪˈfɪʃənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being deficient

2. a lack or insufficiency; shortage

3. another word for deficit

4. biology the absence of a gene or a region of a chromosome normally present

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Other Word Forms

• nondeficiency noun
• predeficiency noun

Etymology

Origin of deficiency

First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin dēficientia, Latin dēficient- (stem of dēficiēns ); deficient, -ency

Example Sentences

It said Paramount had "repeatedly failed to submit the best proposal" for shareholders, despite being given clear directions for potential solutions to deficiencies in the offer.

From BBC

The largest gains would occur in countries already facing serious hunger and micronutrient deficiencies.

From Science Daily

"Magnesium deficiency shuts down the vitamin D synthesis and metabolism pathway," Dai said.

From Science Daily

States that agreed to it would provide voter lists to the Justice Department, which would then look for any “insufficiencies, inadequacies, deficiencies, anomalies, or concerns.”

From The Wall Street Journal

She has an immune system deficiency which makes it hard for her to fight bacteria.

From BBC

Related Words

• dearth
• defect
• failing
• failure
• fault
• flaw
• frailty
• glitch
• insufficiency
• lack
• scarcity
• shortage
• shortcoming
• weakness