What does "lack" mean?

1. (an absence or shortage) a situation where you do not have something, or you do not have enough of it. 2. (to not have something) to not have something that you need or that would be helpful.

How do you use "lack"?

As a noun, it is frequently followed by the preposition 'of'. This is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.

Is it correct to say "There is a lack about communication in the office."?

No — say "There is a lack of communication in the office.". The noun 'lack' is almost always followed by the preposition 'of'.

Is it correct to say "He lacks of the experience for this job."?

No — say "He lacks the experience for this job.". Unlike the noun, the verb 'lack' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'of'.

lack

n. · v.

US //ˈɫæk// UK //lˈæk// lack

1 an absence or shortage (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a situation where you do not have something, or you do not have enough of it.

the state of being without or having an insufficient quantity of something necessary or desirable.

Example

The project failed because of a lack of money and time.

Example

The committee expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the selection process, suggesting it might undermine public trust.

Usage

As a noun, it is frequently followed by the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall

There is a lack about communication in the office.

There is a lack of communication in the office.

The noun 'lack' is almost always followed by the preposition 'of'.
2 to not have something (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to not have something that you need or that would be helpful.

to be without or deficient in something; functions as a stative verb.

Example

He is very smart, but he lacks the confidence to speak in public.

Example

While the novel is technically proficient, it lacks the emotional depth required to truly resonate with a modern audience.

Usage

This is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.

Teacher's tip

Remind students that while the noun takes 'of', the verb takes a direct object with no preposition.
- possess
- have
Pitfall

He lacks of the experience for this job.

He lacks the experience for this job.

Unlike the noun, the verb 'lack' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'of'.

Etymology 1

From Middle English lack, lakke, lak, from Old English læc (“deficiency, lack, want”), from Proto-West Germanic lak, from Proto-Germanic laką, lakaz (“slackness”), from Proto-Germanic lakaz (“limp, slack, loose, low”), related to lak(k)ōną (“to blame, reproach”), from Proto-Indo-European *lok-néh₂-. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Lak (“lack”), Middle Low German lack, lak (“lack”), Dutch lak (“lack, deficiency, calumny”), Icelandic lakur (“lacking”). Related also to Middle Dutch laken (“to blame, lack”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English carence (“absence, lack”), from Old French carence.

Etymology 2

From Middle English lacken, lakken, laken, from Old English læccian, lacian (“to blame, criticise, lack”), from Proto-West Germanic lak(k)ōn (“to blame, be lacking”), from Proto-Germanic lak(k)ōną (“to reproach, blame, be lacking”), from Proto-Indo-European lok-néh₂-. Cognate with Old Frisian lakia, lekia (“to contest, blame”), Middle Low German lacken, laken (“to reproach, blame, criticise”), Middle Dutch laken (“to disapprove, blame, lack”), Dutch laken (“to blame, reproach”).