deficient

Everyday

1. Not having enough of something that is needed, especially in the body or diet: «deficient in iron». tree →
2. Not good enough; having weaknesses or faults: «deficient skills». tree →

In the lessons

In health and science lessons, a diet deficient in vitamin C can cause illness, and plants in poor soil can be deficient in nutrients. In formal reports «deficient» means below the needed standard. Phrases: «deficient in», «vitamin-deficient», «iron-deficient».

Examples

• Her diet was deficient in iron, so she felt tired. tree →
• Sailors long ago got ill from food deficient in vitamin C. tree →
• The soil is deficient in nitrogen, so the plants are yellow. tree →
• The report found the old bridge was deficient and unsafe. tree →
• He was deficient in sleep after the long trip. tree →
• (formal) The candidate's answer was deficient in detail. tree →
• The Russian peasant is by no means deficient in humor, a fact of which the Skazkas offer abundant evidence. tree →

Note

Noun: «deficiency». Spelled with -cient. Do not confuse with «defective» (broken) or «deficit» (a shortfall of money or numbers). In maths, «deficient» means less than needed: if you need 10 and have 7, you are 3 short.