deficit

noun

def·​i·​cit ˈde-fə-sət 

 British also  di-ˈfi-sət,

 or  ˈdē-fə-sət

1

a(1)

: deficiency in amount or quality

a deficit in rainfall

(2)

: a lack or impairment in an ability or functional capacity

cognitive deficits

a hearing deficit

b

: disadvantage

scored two runs to overcome a 2–1 deficit

2

a

: an excess of expenditure over revenue

facing a deficit of $3 billion

raise taxes to help reduce the budget deficit

b

: a loss (see loss sense 4b) in business operations

the year's operating deficit

Synonyms

• crunch
• dearth
• deficiency
• drought
• drouth
• failure
• famine
• inadequacy
• inadequateness
• insufficiency
• lack
• lacuna
• paucity
• pinch
• poverty
• scantiness
• scarceness
• scarcity
• shortage
• undersupply
• want

Examples of deficit in a Sentence

The government is facing a deficit of $3 billion.

We will reduce the federal budget deficit.

The team overcame a four-point deficit to win the game.

She has a slight hearing deficit in her left ear.

Recent Examples on the Web

Democrats, by comparison, want a 28% corporate tax rate in order to fund programs for the middle class and deficit reduction. —Josh Boak, Fortune, 15 July 2024

The Astros are within one game of leading the American League West heading into this week's All-Star break, inching closer to a division lead after a 10-game deficit earlier this season. —Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 15 July 2024

The media drumbeat about California doesn’t help, in a year when the state has had to tackle a multi-billion budget deficit, combat growing homelessness and crime and deal with an unemployment rate that’s been the highest of any state. —David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 13 July 2024

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund faces a more than $6 billion deficit without supplemental appropriations, according to its most recent monthly report, as the agency copes with natural disasters that are increasing in frequency, strength and costs. —Shruti Date Singh Bloomberg News (wpns), arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French déficit, going back to Middle French, "item lacking in an inventory," borrowed from Latin dēficit "it is lacking," 3rd person singular present indicative of dēficere "to be lacking, run short, fail" — more at deficient

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing deficit

• attention deficit disorder
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• deficit spending
• trade deficit

Kids Definition

deficit

noun

def·​i·​cit ˈdef-ə-sət 

: a deficiency in amount

especially : an excess of expenses over income

Medical Definition

deficit

noun

de·​fi·​cit

ˈdef-(ə-)sət; British also di-ˈfis-ət, ˈdē-fə-sət

: a deficiency of a substance

a potassium deficit

also : a lack or impairment of a functional capacity

cognitive deficits