Deficiency: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in medical, nutritional, or technical contexts to refer to a state where necessary elements are missing or lower than required levels.

• Iron deficiency can lead to anemia.
• The report identified several deficiencies in the current system.

Used in everyday language to indicate the absence or shortage of something; it carries a straightforward and neutral tone.

• There is a lack of basic amenities in the area.
• She seems to lack confidence in her abilities.

Commonly used to describe a situation where the supply of something is insufficient to meet the demand, often in economic, supply chain, or resource-related contexts.

• There is a shortage of nurses in the hospital.
• The city faced a severe water shortage due to prolonged drought.

Often used in formal contexts to describe a situation where something is inadequate or not enough to meet a particular need or requirement.

• The budget insufficiency caused delays in the project.
• Cardiac insufficiency needs to be treated carefully.

This term is often used when talking about a lack or shortage of something necessary, such as nutrients in the body or resources in a system. It can be used in both technical and everyday contexts.

• The doctor diagnosed him with a vitamin D deficiency.
• There's a deficiency in the system that needs to be resolved.

Debt is most commonly used in financial contexts to describe money that is owed. It can also refer to a moral or emotional obligation, but this sense is less common.

• She has a significant amount of student loan debt.
• I feel I am in debt to you for your kindness.

Often used to describe a situation where available resources fall short of what is required or expected, particularly in financial or supply contexts.

• The company faced a shortfall in their quarterly earnings.
• There is a shortfall in water supply due to the drought.

This word is frequently used in economic or financial situations to describe a shortfall where expenditures exceed revenues. It can also be used in more general contexts to describe a lack or insufficiency.

• The government's budget deficit has reached an all-time high.
• The project is facing a manpower deficit.