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
- 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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He and the other three decedents were Mexican nationals, prompting the Mexican government to demand an immediate review of the facility, pointing to “serious omissions and evident deficiencies” in medical care.
From Los Angeles Times
He attempts to disguise this deficiency with endless boasting about himself and endless denigration of others.
From Salon
The study, titled 'Caspase- 2 deficiency drives pathogenic liver polyploidy and increases age- associated hepatocellular carcinoma in mice', was published in Science Advances.
From Science Daily
It is unclear whether there is an association between vitamin deficiencies and endometriosis.
From Salon
“Army officials acknowledge that they may discover deficiencies during testing that require modifications,” the report said.
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.
