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
The war also revealed deficiencies in Russia’s conventional ground and air forces.
—
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Davids, a Democrat whose district includes part of Wyandotte County and all of Johnson County, Anderson County, Franklin County and Miami County, went on to outline her concerns about potential operational deficiencies that contributed to the sluggish alert times.
—Matthew Kelly
april 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
The Heat again played with a size deficit for much of the season, sometimes because of roster deficiencies and sometimes because coach Erik Spoelstra had a love/hate relationship with a two-big lineup of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Indigenous peoples have something to say to all of these matters, or deficiencies of our moment.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
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Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Davids, a Democrat whose district includes part of Wyandotte County and all of Johnson County, Anderson County, Franklin County and Miami County, went on to outline her concerns about potential operational deficiencies that contributed to the sluggish alert times.
—Matthew Kelly
april 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
The Heat again played with a size deficit for much of the season, sometimes because of roster deficiencies and sometimes because coach Erik Spoelstra had a love/hate relationship with a two-big lineup of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Indigenous peoples have something to say to all of these matters, or deficiencies of our moment.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 22 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 26 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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