Lack: meaning, definitions and examples

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lack

[ læk ]

Noun / Verb

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Noun}

feeling

the state of not having something that you need or want; the state of being without something

Synonyms

absence, deficiency, shortage.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lack	General term for the state of not having enough or any of something. Often used to describe the absence of something necessary or desired. There is a lack of clean water in many developing countries. She felt a lack of motivation to finish the project.
absence	Used when something or someone is not present in a specific place or situation. Often implies that what is absent should be there. In the absence of the manager, please direct your questions to the assistant. His absence from the meeting was notable.
deficiency	Refers to a shortage of something necessary, often used in medical or technical contexts. Emphasizes the negative impact of not having enough. The doctor noted a vitamin D deficiency in the patient. There is a deficiency of skilled workers in this industry.
shortage	Specifically indicates a limited supply of something that is needed. Frequently used in economic or logistical contexts. The city is facing a shortage of affordable housing. There was a shortage of masks during the early stages of the pandemic.

Examples of usage

Despite working hard, he still felt a sense of lack in his life.
She tried to fill the lack in her heart with material possessions.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

quantity

be without or deficient in

Synonyms

be deficient in, be short of, be without.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lack	Used when something essential or desired is missing entirely or in significant amount. It's a general term applicable to various contexts such as resources, skills, or qualities. The project failed due to a lack of funding She often feels a lack of confidence when speaking in public
be without	Used to indicate the absence of something, often in a context where having the thing would be usual or expected. It can carry a somewhat negative undertone depending on the context. He went a whole day without food She found herself without any friends in the new city
be deficient in	Often used in a more formal or technical context to indicate that there is a shortage of a necessary element or quality. Commonly used in medical or scientific settings. The patient is deficient in vitamin D His argument was deficient in logic
be short of	Used to indicate a smaller or inadequate amount of something, often when something is almost enough but still lacking. It can be used in both casual and formal contexts. We are running short of time for this project The school is short of teachers this semester

Examples of usage

The team lacked experience in this type of competition.
He lacked the necessary skills to complete the task.

Translations

Translations of the word "lack" in other languages:

🇵🇹 falta

🇮🇳 कमी

🇩🇪 Mangel

🇮🇩 kekurangan

🇺🇦 відсутність

🇵🇱 brak

🇯🇵 欠如 (けつじょ)

🇫🇷 manque

🇪🇸 falta

🇹🇷 eksiklik

🇰🇷 부족 (부족)

🇸🇦 نقص

🇨🇿 nedostatek

🇸🇰 nedostatok

🇨🇳 缺乏 (quēfá)

🇸🇮 pomanjkanje

🇮🇸 skortur

🇰🇿 жетіспеушілік

🇬🇪 ნაკლებობა

🇦🇿 çatışmazlıq

🇲🇽 falta

Etymology

The word 'lack' originated from the Middle English word 'lak', which means deficiency or shortage. It has been used in the English language for centuries to describe the absence or shortage of something. The concept of lack has been explored in various philosophical and psychological contexts, highlighting the importance of fulfilling one's needs and desires.

See also: lackey, lacking, lackluster, lacks.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,006, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.

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1003 talk
1004 king
1005 recently
1006 lack
1007 powers
1008 growing
1009 processes
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