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# deficiency

noun (a deficiency, deficiencies)

«deficiency» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A deficiency is a lack of something that is needed, not having enough of it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#m1)
2. A deficiency is a weakness or fault in something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#m2)

### In the lessons

In health and science lessons a vitamin deficiency means not getting enough of a vitamin, which can make you ill: too little vitamin C can cause scurvy. In formal reports «deficiencies in the work» means things that are missing or wrong. In maths, a deficiency is a shortfall: how much less than needed.

### Examples

- Lack of sunlight can cause vitamin D deficiency. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x1)
- Sailors once had scurvy from a vitamin C deficiency. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x2)
- Iron deficiency can make you tired. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x3)
- (formal) The report pointed out deficiencies in the plan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x4)
- There is a deficiency of 20 chairs for the concert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x5)
- Eating many kinds of food helps prevent deficiencies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x6)
- Poor Jason was greatly abashed, and made up his mind that the people of Iolchos were exceedingly ill-bred, to take such public notice of an accidental deficiency in his dress. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/#x7)

### Note

Plural: deficiencies (y → ies). Adjective: deficient. In maths: deficiency = needed − what you have; if 100 are needed and 80 are there, the deficiency is 20.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «deficiency» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deficiency/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«deficiency» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deficiency.html) on Mova free.