deficit
UK: ˈdɛfɪsɪt | US: ˈdɛfəsɪt
n. 1. The amount by which something (especially money) is too small; a shortage.
n. 2. A deficiency or lack of something required or expected.
n. 3. (Accounting) An excess of liabilities over assets.
deficit = de<down, away> + fic<do, make> + it<noun suffix>
- de (Latin de-): Prefix meaning "down, away, or reversal."
- fic (Latin facere): Root meaning "to do or make."
- it: Noun-forming suffix (from Latin -itum), often indicating a result or state.
Etymology Origin:
The word deficit originates from Latin deficit ("it is lacking"), the third-person singular present tense of deficere ("to fail, run short"). The components de- (away) + facere (to do) imply "undoing" or "falling short of completion." Initially used in financial contexts to describe budgetary shortfalls, it later broadened to denote any insufficiency. The term entered English in the 18th century via French déficit, retaining its core logic of "lack due to undoing."
The government reported a budget deficit of $1 trillion this year.
A deficit in rainfall led to drought conditions.
His poor diet caused a vitamin deficit.
The team’s deficit in the third quarter seemed impossible to overcome.
The trade deficit widened due to increased imports.