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

By contrast, the French government has just lowered its 2024 growth forecast and reported a budget deficit far exceeding its estimate for 2023, prompting it to seek tens of billions of euros of spending cuts. —Rodrigo Orihuela, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024

The best photos from the men's March Madness Final Four 1 of 60 The game was close throughout the first half before the Huskies went on a 15-7 run to propel themselves from a 2-point deficit to a 36-30 lead at the intermission. —Steve Almasy, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Gavin Newsom, California lawmakers cut $17 billion deal to shave looming state budget deficit, via Lindsey Holden. —Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024

The Heat erased all of an early 17-2 deficit by midway through the second quarter, fell behind by 16 again, but strung together a 24-6 run late in the third and early in the fourth to surge ahead 95-87 before the 76ers rallied and the Heat fell apart. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

In the rematch, Half Moon Bay scored three in the home half of the seventh to erase a 4-1 deficit and force extra innings. —Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

In studies of orphans living in austere, institutionalized settings — such as the orphanage that Ethan grew up in—those deprived of essential experiences for more than the first few years of life showed deficits in executive functioning, social relationships, and attachment. —Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

The Carr Center went from raising about $1.5 million with about $1 million in expenses in 2019 to generating about $800,000 in revenue and spending $1.1 million in 2023, leaving the organization with a $300,000 cash deficit, tax documents show. —Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 1 Apr. 2024

After starting the game three-of-22 shooting from three-point range, UCLA finally found its stroke in wiping out a nine-point deficit in the third quarter. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 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

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

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