as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there is a deficiency of fresh food in the diet of many of the working poor
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Recent Examples of deficiency
In December 2024, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ordered Bank of America to overhaul its anti-money laundering system, citing deficiencies in its automated oversight.
—
Jason Wingard, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Table salt is fortified with iodine to help prevent the risk of deficiency.
—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 18 Feb. 2025
Yellowing foliage in the center of the plant during flowering may indicate nitrogen deficiency.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025
If citrus leaves are yellow with green veins, the problem is iron deficiency, which may also be remedied with foliar fertilization.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Jason Wingard, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Table salt is fortified with iodine to help prevent the risk of deficiency.
—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 18 Feb. 2025
Yellowing foliage in the center of the plant during flowering may indicate nitrogen deficiency.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025
If citrus leaves are yellow with green veins, the problem is iron deficiency, which may also be remedied with foliar fertilization.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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