deficiency

Everyday

1. A deficiency is a lack of something that is needed, not having enough of it. tree →
2. A deficiency is a weakness or fault in something. tree →

In the lessons

In health and science lessons a vitamin deficiency means not getting enough of a vitamin, which can make you ill: too little vitamin C can cause scurvy. In formal reports «deficiencies in the work» means things that are missing or wrong. In maths, a deficiency is a shortfall: how much less than needed.

Examples

• Lack of sunlight can cause vitamin D deficiency. tree →
• Sailors once had scurvy from a vitamin C deficiency. tree →
• Iron deficiency can make you tired. tree →
• (formal) The report pointed out deficiencies in the plan. tree →
• There is a deficiency of 20 chairs for the concert. tree →
• Eating many kinds of food helps prevent deficiencies. tree →
• Poor Jason was greatly abashed, and made up his mind that the people of Iolchos were exceedingly ill-bred, to take such public notice of an accidental deficiency in his dress. tree →

Note

Plural: deficiencies (y → ies). Adjective: deficient. In maths: deficiency = needed − what you have; if 100 are needed and 80 are there, the deficiency is 20.