Deficit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈde-fə-sət/ def·i·cit

Meaning & Definition of Deficit

Deficit (noun)

  1. deficiency in amount or quality
  2. a lack or impairment in an ability or functional capacity
  3. disadvantage

Deficit (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "a growing deficit in the number of hours devoted to sleep"

    similar: crunch, dearth, deficiency, 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 Deficit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deficit:

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

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deficit

Words with the opposite meaning of Deficit:

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

Related Words for Deficit

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

Near Antonyms of Deficit

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

Origin & Etymology of Deficit

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" deficient

First known use: 1782

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Deficit

Words & Phrases Containing Deficit

deficit spending, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, trade deficit

Frequently Asked Questions about Deficit

What does "Deficit" mean?

"Deficit" means deficiency in amount or quality. As a noun, it is defined as: deficiency in amount or quality.

What is another word for "Deficit"?

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

What are different ways to say "Deficit"?

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

What is the opposite of "Deficit"?

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

How do you use "Deficit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deficit" in a sentence: "a growing deficit in the number of hours devoted to sleep".

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

"Deficit" is a noun.

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

As a C1-level word, "Deficit" 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 "Deficit"?

"Deficit" is pronounced /ˈde-fə-sət/ and divided into syllables as def·i·cit.