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 attempts to disguise this deficiency with endless boasting about himself and endless denigration of others.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026
"Most people with color vision deficiency are typically functioning fine. They don't have any other vision issues. Many affected individuals may not even know they have it," Rahimy said.
From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026
On Tuesday the FDA said it was in fact approving use of leucovorin for a rare condition called cerebral folate deficiency but not for autism.
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
The Food and Drug Administration approved leucovorin, a drug the Trump administration has touted as a potential therapy for autism, to treat cerebral folate transport deficiency, a neurological disorder with some symptoms similar to autism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Lucinda’s death leaves us with a serious deficiency in the freak lineup.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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.
