deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfi-shən-sē 
plural deficiencies
1
: the quality or state of being defective or of lacking some necessary quality or element : the quality or state of being deficient : inadequacy
suffers from a deficiency of critical thinking
2
: an amount that is lacking or inadequate : shortage
staffing deficiencies
: such as
a
: a shortage of substances necessary to health
a vitamin C deficiency
hormone deficiencies
b
genetics
: deletion sense 2b(1)
Synonyms
Examples of deficiency in a Sentence
The disease may be caused by nutritional deficiencies.
The book's major deficiency is its poor plot.
a deficiency of vitamin C
There are several deficiencies in his plan.
The accident was caused by deficiencies in the engine.
Recent Examples on the Web
The filing does include several risk factors that aren’t directly related to Trump, including competition from other social media companies, deficiencies in bookkeeping and accounting, and data privacy laws.
—
William Turton, WIRED, 15 Apr. 2024
Muscle fiber loss, also known as sarcopenia, usually starts to happen after age 30.7 While there are many contributing factors for muscle loss due to aging—hormonal changes, nutrition deficiencies, and chronic illnesses—the biggest cause of muscle loss is inactivity.
—Tiffany Ayuda, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
Enzyme supplements such as amylase (for carbohydrates), protease (for proteins), and lipase (for fats) can aid in digestion and reduce symptoms of bloating, gas, and indigestion, especially for individuals with enzyme deficiencies or digestive disorders.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
If people mention memory trouble, doctors must rule out reversible causes like thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, medication issues or depression, Kulshreshtha said.
—Tom Murphy, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Siblings of children with ADHD are at a higher risk, but infections, prenatal smoking exposure, deficiencies, and other environmental issues are implicated [14].
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Bridges across the country carry similar deficiencies.
—Mike Baker, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
An endocannabinoid deficiency can result in physical issues, such as sleeplessness and pain.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The deficiency has been linked to changes in the ocean ecosystem, where salmon have been feeding on more anchovies.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
William Turton, WIRED, 15 Apr. 2024
Muscle fiber loss, also known as sarcopenia, usually starts to happen after age 30.7 While there are many contributing factors for muscle loss due to aging—hormonal changes, nutrition deficiencies, and chronic illnesses—the biggest cause of muscle loss is inactivity.
—Tiffany Ayuda, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
Enzyme supplements such as amylase (for carbohydrates), protease (for proteins), and lipase (for fats) can aid in digestion and reduce symptoms of bloating, gas, and indigestion, especially for individuals with enzyme deficiencies or digestive disorders.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
If people mention memory trouble, doctors must rule out reversible causes like thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, medication issues or depression, Kulshreshtha said.
—Tom Murphy, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Siblings of children with ADHD are at a higher risk, but infections, prenatal smoking exposure, deficiencies, and other environmental issues are implicated [14].
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Bridges across the country carry similar deficiencies.
—Mike Baker, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
An endocannabinoid deficiency can result in physical issues, such as sleeplessness and pain.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The deficiency has been linked to changes in the ocean ecosystem, where salmon have been feeding on more anchovies.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deficiency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near deficiency
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficiency. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural deficiencies
1
: the quality or state of being deficient
2
: the quality or state of being inadequate
especially
: a shortage of substances necessary to health
Medical Definition
deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural deficiencies
1
: a shortage of substances (as vitamins) necessary to health
2
: deletion
Legal Definition
deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfi-shən-sē
plural deficiencies
: an amount that is lacking or inadequate: as
a
: the difference between the amount of tax owed and the amount of tax paid
b
: the difference between the amount owed under a security agreement and the amount the creditor is able to recover upon default of the debtor by selling the collateral
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