Deficiency — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈfi-shən-sē/ de·fi·cien·cy

Meaning & Definition of Deficiency

Deficiency (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being defective or of lacking some necessary quality or element, the quality or state of being deficient, inadequacy
  2. an amount that is lacking or inadequate, shortage
  3. a shortage of substances necessary to health

Deficiency (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

    "there is a deficiency of fresh food in the diet of many of the working poor"

    similar: crunch, dearth, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want
    related: absence, omission, meagerness, poorness, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation
    opposite: abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth
    near: bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deficiency

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deficiency:

crunch, dearth, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deficiency

Words with the opposite meaning of Deficiency:

abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

Related Words for Deficiency

absence, omission, meagerness, poorness, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation

Near Antonyms of Deficiency

bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Word Forms of Deficiency

Inflections: deficiencies

Origin & Etymology of Deficiency

defici(ent):1 + -ency

First known use: 1603

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Deficiency

Words & Phrases Containing Deficiency

deficiency disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, mental deficiency, severe combined immunodeficiency

Frequently Asked Questions about Deficiency

What does "Deficiency" mean?

"Deficiency" means the quality or state of being defective or of lacking some necessary quality or element, the quality or state of being deficient, inadequacy. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being defective or of lacking some necessary quality or element, the quality or state of being deficient, inadequacy.

What is another word for "Deficiency"?

Other words for "Deficiency" include crunch, dearth, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy and inadequateness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deficiency" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deficiency"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deficiency". Common alternatives include crunch, dearth, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency and lack.

What is the opposite of "Deficiency"?

Antonyms of "Deficiency" include abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency and wealth. Near antonyms include bountifulness, copiousness, excess and overabundance.

How do you use "Deficiency" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deficiency" in a sentence: "there is a deficiency of fresh food in the diet of many of the working poor".

Is "Deficiency" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deficiency" is a noun.

Is "Deficiency" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Deficiency" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Deficiency"?

"Deficiency" is pronounced /di-ˈfi-shən-sē/ and divided into syllables as de·fi·cien·cy.