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)
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
At Pebble Creek at Lake Mary, 85 apartment units were condemned due to life-threatening deficiencies, and at the Rialto Apartments near Sand Lake Road, nearly 400 residents were evacuated due to structural instability.
—
Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Nutrafol features ingredients that may target a variety of root causes of hair loss and shedding, including stress, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Somewhere over the course of time and the quest to make the NBA, staying in college too long has become a sign of failure, as if either being a great college player or not being NBA-ready soon enough is a sign of a deficiency.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
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Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Nutrafol features ingredients that may target a variety of root causes of hair loss and shedding, including stress, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Somewhere over the course of time and the quest to make the NBA, staying in college too long has become a sign of failure, as if either being a great college player or not being NBA-ready soon enough is a sign of a deficiency.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficiency. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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