This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
deficiency
[ dih-fish-uhn-see ]
/ dɪˈfɪʃ ən si /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun, plural de·fi·cien·cies.
the state of being deficient; lack; incompleteness; insufficiency.
the amount lacked; a deficit.
OTHER WORDS FOR deficiency
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Also Obsolete, deficience [dih-fish-uhns] /dɪˈfɪʃ əns/ .
Origin of deficiency
OTHER WORDS FROM deficiency
non·de·fi·cien·cy, noun, plural non·de·fi·cien·cies.pre·de·fi·cien·cy, noun, plural pre·de·fi·cien·cies.Words nearby deficiency
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use deficiency in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for deficiency
deficiency
/ (dɪˈfɪʃənsɪ) /
noun plural -cies
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012