deficiency
noun
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Definition of deficiency
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)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for deficiency
Synonyms
crunch, dearth, deficit, drought (also drouth), failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want
Antonyms
abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth
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Examples of deficiency in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
State inspectors had shut down the coaster twice in the past 18 months because of problems, but those deficiencies had been corrected and did not contribute to the derailment, the report said. — Jennifer Kay, The Seattle Times, "Florida: Excessive speed caused roller coaster derailment," 10 July 2018 Get checked Medical conditions such as depression, vitamin deficiency, thyroid problems and diabetes can cause memory loss. — Jan Burns, Houston Chronicle, "Activities, life choices can help keep memory sharp," 15 June 2018 Meanwhile, an acute deficiency of behavioral health services and a stigma against seeking treatment stymie suicide prevention efforts in the region. — Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Mountain West, how frontier ethos magnifies problem of suicide," 14 June 2018 Fransen said Atlas appears a bit malnourished and shows signs of calcium deficiency, a common issue for the species. — Suzanne Baker, Naperville Sun, "Naperville couple finds their lost pet tortoise, rescues another," 5 June 2018 There aren’t any particularly great views and the cart paths have seen better days, but those cosmetic deficiencies don’t detract from the golf itself. — Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, "Forest Park Golf Course," 18 May 2018 That non-compliance puts the plant in danger of being closed by regulators in the near future if deficiencies are not corrected, according to materials provided to the regents. — Karen Herzog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "$220 million building boom on UW-Madison campus will modernize chemistry and agriculture facilities," 5 Apr. 2018 Those deficiencies on the inside continued this season, when Kansas found itself without the 6-foot-10 Billy Preston, a top-10 recruit who wound up leaving the university without playing a game amid NCAA-eligibility concerns. — Rachel Bachman, WSJ, "The Most Mediocre Defense in the Final Four," 27 Mar. 2018 Hill, who joined Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, Jr., as part of Cleveland’s midseason retooling, helps address both of those deficiencies. — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, "Hill’s Spurs connection still paying off," 2 Mar. 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for deficiency
deficiency
noun
English Language Learners Definition of deficiency
: a lack of something that is needed : the state of not having enough of something necessary
: a problem in the way something is made or formed
See the full definition for deficiency in the English Language Learners Dictionary
deficiency
noun
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Kids Definition of deficiency
: the condition of being without something necessary and especially something required for health a vitamin deficiency
deficiency
noun
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Medical Definition of deficiency
1 : a shortage of substances (as vitamins) necessary to health
2 : deletion
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deficiency
noun
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Legal Definition of deficiency
: 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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