Definition of deficiency
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 asa : a shortage of substances necessary to health a vitamin C deficiency hormone deficienciesb genetics : deletion 2b(1)
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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 of deficiency from the Web
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SOEs are getting bigger, not smaller; their management has become more conservative; and their deficiencies are beginning to infect the economy more widely.
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The U.S. military hasn’t been able to solve the oxygen deficiency problem plaguing some of its jets, so a U.S. senator from Mississippi wants to dangle a $10 million prize in an open competition. ‘
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This timeline traces the long and troubled history of safety deficiencies at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Plutonium Facility by detailing the timing of some 40 government reports and expert presentations spanning the past 11 years.
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In 2013, Kaiser agreed to pay a $4 million fine for several deficiencies in the plan’s delivery of mental health services — one of the largest ever paid by an insurer in the state.
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Prior to that vote, there had been multiple controversies, from poor safety ratings to a state inspection that found that nursing deficiencies had endangered three patients.
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That gave the Hawks brass plenty of time to discuss the glaring deficiency on the blue line, where Bowman's decisions have resulted in the Hawks losing Trevor van Riemsdyk in the expansion draft and trading their best pure defender in Hjalmarsson.
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This year, the cabinet attempted to revoke EMW's license and close the clinic, also citing alleged deficiencies with its transfer agreements.
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Deficiency can lead to fatigue, headaches, anxiety, and more.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deficiency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of deficiency
see 1deficient
DEFICIENCY Defined for English Language Learners
deficiency
playDefinition of deficiency for English Language Learners
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: a lack of something that is needed : the state of not having enough of something necessary
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: a problem in the way something is made or formed
DEFICIENCY Defined for Kids
deficiency
playDefinition of deficiency for Students
deficiencies
: the condition of being without something necessary and especially something required for health a vitamin deficiency
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
deficiency
playLegal Definition of deficiency
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
Learn More about deficiency
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for deficiency Spanish Central: Translation of deficiency Nglish: Translation of deficiency for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of deficiency for Arabic speakers
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