deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfi-shən-sē 
plural deficiencies
1
: the quality or state of being defective or of lacking some necessary quality or element : the quality or state of being deficient : inadequacy
suffers from a deficiency of critical thinking
2
: an amount that is lacking or inadequate : shortage
staffing deficiencies
: such as
a
: a shortage of substances necessary to health
a vitamin C deficiency
hormone deficiencies
b
genetics
: deletion sense 2b(1)
Examples of deficiency in a Sentence
The disease may be caused by nutritional deficiencies.
The book's major deficiency is its poor plot.
a deficiency of vitamin C
There are several deficiencies in his plan.
The accident was caused by deficiencies in the engine.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Mayo Clinic, leucovorin is primarily used to combat the negative effects of a cancer medicine and treat certain kinds of anemia, or a deficiency in red blood cells.
—
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
The administration also plans to highlight leucovorin, typically used to treat vitamin B9 deficiency, as a potential autism treatment based on early clinical trials showing communication improvements in children.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Previous studies have found a link between vitamin D deficiency and colorectal cancer.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Obesity can disrupt the body's metabolism, weaken the immune system and lead to diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and up to 15 different cancers, while being underweight is tied to malnutrition, weakened immunity and nutrient deficiencies, Gribsholt warned.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
The administration also plans to highlight leucovorin, typically used to treat vitamin B9 deficiency, as a potential autism treatment based on early clinical trials showing communication improvements in children.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Previous studies have found a link between vitamin D deficiency and colorectal cancer.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Obesity can disrupt the body's metabolism, weaken the immune system and lead to diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and up to 15 different cancers, while being underweight is tied to malnutrition, weakened immunity and nutrient deficiencies, Gribsholt warned.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficiency. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural deficiencies
1
: the quality or state of being deficient
2
: the quality or state of being inadequate
especially
: a shortage of substances necessary to health
Medical Definition
deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural deficiencies
1
: a shortage of substances (as vitamins) necessary to health
2
: deletion
Legal Definition
deficiency
noun
de·fi·cien·cy
di-ˈfi-shən-sē
plural deficiencies
: an amount that is lacking or inadequate: as
a
: the difference between the amount of tax owed and the amount of tax paid
b
: the difference between the amount owed under a security agreement and the amount the creditor is able to recover upon default of the debtor by selling the collateral
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