Word
deficiency
Phoneticsde·fi·cien·cy, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈfɪʃənsi/
UK/dɪfˈɪʃənsi/
Definitions
01lack of a nutrient
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a lack of something your body needs to stay healthy, like a vitamin.
n. an insufficiency of a substance, such as a vitamin or mineral, that is essential for healthy physiological functioning.
日本語:不足※
“A vitamin C deficiency can make you feel very tired and weak.”
“The patient presented with symptoms consistent with a severe iron deficiency, likely exacerbated by a restrictive diet and high physical activity.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
02a flaw or weakness
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a weakness or a way in which something is not good enough.
n. a failure to reach a required standard or a specific flaw in a system, plan, or character.
日本語:欠陥※
“The report pointed out a serious deficiency in the school's safety rules.”
“The audit identified several structural deficiencies in the company's internal accounting procedures that required immediate rectification.”
Usage
Commonly used in formal reports and academic evaluations.
03mathematical gap
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a specific measurement of how much a mathematical shape or system is missing.
n. a technical measure of the amount by which a geometric or linear system falls short of a maximum or complete state.
“The professor explained how to calculate the deficiency of the curve.”
“In algebraic geometry, the deficiency of a curve relates to the number of double points compared to the maximum possible for its degree.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “deficiency” in context.
Verb
01. address a deficiency
“The manager met with the team to address the deficiencies in their recent project proposal.”
verb + noun
02. remedy a deficiency
“The government has introduced new legislation to remedy the deficiency in the current healthcare system.”
verb + noun
03. suffer from a deficiency
“Many people in northern climates suffer from a vitamin D deficiency during the winter months.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. glaring deficiency
“The audit revealed several glaring deficiencies in the company's accounting procedures.”
adj + noun
05. nutritional deficiency
“A chronic nutritional deficiency can lead to long-term health complications if left untreated.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. deficiency in the system
“The recent data breach exposed a critical deficiency in the system's security protocols.”
noun + prep + noun
07. iron deficiency
“She was diagnosed with an iron deficiency after complaining of constant fatigue and weakness.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. due to a deficiency
“The plant's leaves turned yellow due to a deficiency of nitrogen in the soil.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Responding to the incident on Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the event as “tragic” and said it exposed serious deficiencies that needed to be addressed immediately.” “Responding to the incident last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa described it as “tragic” and said it exposed serious deficiencies that needed to be addressed immediately.” Etymology
From deficient + -cy. Compare Latin dēficientia.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/deficiency
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0