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deficiency definition

de·fi·ciency (dē fis̸h′ən sē, di-)

noun

  1. the quality or state of being deficient; absence of something essential; incompleteness
  2. pl. deficiencies -·cies
    1. a shortage
    2. the amount of shortage; deficit

Etymology: ME deficience < LL deficientia < L deficiens, prp. of deficere to lack, fail < de-, from + facere, to do

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business deficiency definition - business

medical deficiency definition - medical

deficiency Synonyms

deficiency

n.

  1. The state of being lacking

    scarcity, insufficiency, paucity; see lack 1.

  2. A lack

    want, need, loss; see lack 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

deficiency Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • b12: When is a deficiency of vitamin B12 likely to occur?

Converse of object

  • rectify: Anyway, John Hunter from Oz has rectified the deficiency, which has enabled Number Watch to introduce a new section.

Adjective modifier

  • alpha-1: Adult liver disease The symptoms of liver disease due to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in adults are similar to those in older children.

Modifies a noun

  • anemia: Little evidence of iron deficiency anemia was found from total iron binding capacity.

Noun used with modifier

  • antitrypsin: Adult liver disease The symptoms of liver disease due to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in adults are similar to those in older children.
deficiency usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

deficiency quotes

Every man of any education would rather be called a rascal, than accused of deficiency in the graces.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

deficiency quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"deficiency." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/deficiency>

APA Style

deficiency. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/deficiency

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