deficiency
UK: dɪˈfɪʃənsi | US: dɪˈfɪʃənsi
n. a lack or shortage of something necessary
n. an imperfection or failing, especially in a system or process
n. (medicine) a condition resulting from inadequate intake or absorption of nutrients
deficiency = de<away, down> + fic<make, do> + ency<noun suffix>
- de (from Latin de-, meaning "away, down")
- fic (from Latin facere, meaning "to make, do")
- ency (noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition)
Etymology Origin:
The word "deficiency" traces back to Latin deficientia, derived from deficere ("to fail, desert, or run short"). The morpheme de- implies reduction or negation, while fic (from facere) conveys action or creation. Combined, they suggest a "failure to make/do enough." Over time, the term evolved in Middle English via Old French to describe insufficiency in both tangible (e.g., nutrients) and abstract (e.g., flaws) contexts.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone disorders.
The report highlighted a deficiency in the safety protocols.
His speech revealed a deficiency of logical arguments.
The soil’s nutrient deficiency affected crop yields.
Engineers addressed the structural deficiencies in the bridge design.