deficit
noun
def·i·cit
ˈde-fə-sət 
British also di-ˈfi-sət,
or ˈdē-fə-sət
1
a(1)
: deficiency in amount or quality
a deficit in rainfall
(2)
: a lack or impairment in an ability or functional capacity
cognitive deficits
a hearing deficit
b
: disadvantage
scored two runs to overcome a 2–1 deficit
2
a
: an excess of expenditure over revenue
facing a deficit of $3 billion
raise taxes to help reduce the budget deficit
b
: a loss (see loss sense 4b) in business operations
the year's operating deficit
Examples of deficit in a Sentence
The government is facing a deficit of $3 billion.
We will reduce the federal budget deficit.
The team overcame a four-point deficit to win the game.
She has a slight hearing deficit in her left ear.
Recent Examples on the Web
Macron and Lecornu are under pressure on one side from protesters and left-wing parties opposed to budget cuts and, on the other, from investors concerned about the deficit in the euro zone’s second largest economy.
—
Reuters, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Even so, with a $94 million deficit forecasted in 2027, Levine Cava warned commissioners earlier this month that Miami-Dade would have to use one-time funding patches to bring back charity grants in 2026.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Rather than competing for users’ eyeballs in an attention-deficit world, businesses need to evolve and pivot to the Intelligence Economy—a shift from volume to precision.
—Rajiv Shesh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Another way the city might tighten the budget is by putting money generated from leasing space on cell towers toward the deficit rather than toward what the money typically funds.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficit
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Reuters, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Even so, with a $94 million deficit forecasted in 2027, Levine Cava warned commissioners earlier this month that Miami-Dade would have to use one-time funding patches to bring back charity grants in 2026.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Rather than competing for users’ eyeballs in an attention-deficit world, businesses need to evolve and pivot to the Intelligence Economy—a shift from volume to precision.
—Rajiv Shesh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Another way the city might tighten the budget is by putting money generated from leasing space on cell towers toward the deficit rather than toward what the money typically funds.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficit
Cite this Entry
“Deficit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficit. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deficit
noun
def·i·cit
ˈdef-ə-sət
: a deficiency in amount
especially
: an excess of expenses over income
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