deficient

The definition of deficient is a person of thing that is incomplete or lacking something needed.

(adjective)

An example of deficient is a person who does not have enought iron; the person is iron deficient.

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See deficient in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. lacking in some essential; incomplete; defective
  2. inadequate in amount, quality, or degree; not sufficient

Origin: L deficiens: see deficiency

noun

a deficient person or thing

Related Forms:

See deficient in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Lacking an essential quality or element: deficient in common sense.
  2. Inadequate in amount or degree; insufficient: a deficient education.

Origin:

Origin: Latin dēficiēns, dēficient-

Origin: , present participle of dēficere, to fail, be wanting; see defect

.

Related Forms:

  • de·fiˈcient noun
  • de·fiˈcient·ly adverb

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