# lack of

CEFR B1 · Prepositional phrase

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lack-of
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

a situation where you do not have enough of something or have none at all.

For teachers: a state of being without or having an insufficient quantity of something; functions as a complex noun phrase head or prepositional complement.

## Examples

- The project failed because of a lack of money.
- Many plants die during the summer months due to a lack of water and extreme heat.
- The committee cited a lack of transparency in the procurement process as the primary reason for the investigation's commencement.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They lack of the necessary skills." but "They lack the necessary skills." — the verb 'lack' is transitive and does not take 'of'; only the noun form requires the preposition.

## Usage notes

- usually follows 'a' and is followed by a noun representing the missing item.
- Teaching tip: help students distinguish between the noun 'lack' (followed by 'of') and the verb 'lack' (which takes a direct object with no preposition).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.