Word
deficient
Phoneticsde·fi·cient, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈfɪʃənt/
UK/dɪfˈɪʃənt/
Definition
adj. not having enough of something that is necessary, like a vitamin or a specific skill.
adj. lacking in a necessary quality, element, or amount. Often used in medical or technical contexts to describe a shortage that prevents proper functioning.
Examples
“His diet is deficient in vitamin C.”
“The inspection found that the building's fire safety measures were deficient and required immediate upgrades.”
“While the theory was elegant in its simplicity, it proved deficient when applied to real-world data that accounted for environmental variables the researchers had initially ignored.”
Examples
simple
“His diet is deficient in vitamin C.”
contextual
“The inspection found that the building's fire safety measures were deficient and required immediate upgrades.”
complex
“While the theory was elegant in its simplicity, it proved deficient when applied to real-world data that accounted for environmental variables the researchers had initially ignored.”
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'in'.
Pitfall
The report was deficient of details.
The report was deficient in details.
The adjective 'deficient' collocations with 'in' rather than 'of' when specifying what is lacking.
Real-World Examples
“After trying to persuade her to avoid divorce, the governor later comments that women are "mindless" and "deficient in intellect", to laughter from the male officials, bodyguards and elders around him.” “When the animals could freely choose between standard chow and soybean oil, the OPA1-deficient mice consumed more fat and gained additional weight.” Etymology
From Latin deficiens, present participle of deficere (“to lack, fail, be wanting”); see defect.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- 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 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/deficient