What does deficient mean?

Definitions for deficient
dɪˈfɪʃ əntde·fi·cient

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word deficient.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. deficient, lacking(p), wanting(p)adjective

    inadequate in amount or degree

    "a deficient education"; "deficient in common sense"; "lacking in stamina"; "tested and found wanting"

  2. insufficient, deficientadjective

    of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

    "insufficient funds"

  3. deficient, inferior, substandardadjective

    falling short of some prescribed norm

    "substandard housing"

Wiktionary

  1. deficientadjective

    Lacking something essential; often construed with in.

  2. deficientadjective

    Insufficient or inadequate in amount.

  3. Etymology: From deficiens, present participle of deficere; see defect.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Deficientadjective

    Failing; wanting; defective; imperfect.

    Etymology: deficiens, from deficio, Latin.

    O woman! best are all things as the will
    Of God ordain’d them: his creating hand
    Nothing imperfect or deficient left. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

    Figures are either simple or mixed: the simple be either circular or angular; and of circular, either complete, as circles, or deficient, as ovals. Henry Wotton, Architect.

    Neither Virgil nor were deficient in any of the former beauties. John Dryden, Fab. Pref.

    Several views, postures, stands, turns, limitations and exceptions, and several other thoughts of the mind, for which we have either none, or very deficient names, are diligently to be studied. John Locke.

ChatGPT

  1. deficient

    Deficient refers to a lack, shortage, or insufficiency of something required or desirable. This could be related to a lack in quantity, quality, amount, or degree. It can apply to various areas such as nutrition, knowledge, skills, resources, or any other aspect where there's a need or expectation.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Deficientadjective

    wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective; imperfect; incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts; deficient estate; deficient strength; deficient in judgment

  2. Etymology: [L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of deficere to be wanting. See Defect.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Deficient

    de-fish′ent, adj. wanting.—n. Defic′iency (sometimes Defic′ience), defect.—adv. Defic′iently.—ns. Defic′ientness; Def′icit, deficiency, esp. of revenue, as compared with expenditure. [L., deficĕre.]

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of deficient in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of deficient in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of deficient in a Sentence

  1. Carole Baggerly:

    Nearly 40 percent to 75 percent of the world's population is vitamin D deficient, the deficiency and disease that follow do not need to exist. GrassrootsHealth was founded to eradicate the vitamin D deficiency epidemic.

  2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge:

    No mind is thoroughly well organized that is deficient in a sense of humor.

  3. Andrew Marr:

    It’s highly individualized; no two people are the same, whatever you’re found to be deficient or insufficient in, that’s what we’re going to replace.

  4. Danine Fruge:

    It's very easy to get enough magnesium. I think the reason so many people are deficient is because a lot of food and drink can make magnesium unavailable to their bodies.

  5. Getty Images:

    It is clear to me that the workplace in Washington was unprofessional and unacceptable in numerous respects. Bullying, widespread disrespect toward colleagues, use of demeaning language, public embarrassment, and harassment. Moreover, for a prolonged period of time, the commanders had a woefully deficient H.R. function, particularly with respect to reporting practices and record-keeping.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

deficient#10000#17142#100000

Translations for deficient

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"deficient." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/deficient>.

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