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 of deficit

• shortage
• lack
• deficiency

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

The construction of new schools while the district was cutting staff to balance a multi-million-dollar budget deficit was one point of contention between DUSD and the city's teachers' association, which went on strike in March. — Kara St. Cyr, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Rethink Trade director Lori Wallach cautioned against viewing the first-half 2025-to-2026 contraction in the deficit as an all-out win, given that there were special circumstances that precipitated it. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2026

The Storm managed to shorten the deficit with help from Malonga, who led all scorers with 15 following two quarters. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

The Valkyries beat the Toronto Tempo 92-82 on Tuesday night at Chase Center, overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit and using a 15-0 run that spanned both sides of the halftime break to set themselves up to take control in the second half. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

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