Deficient
/dɪˈfɪʃənt/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Deficient describes a situation where something is not enough or is missing an important part. It often refers to things like nutrients, qualities, or skills that are needed but are lacking. For example, a diet can be deficient in vitamins, or a plan can be deficient in details.
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See It in Action
Not having enough of something necessary
- •Her diet was deficient in iron, so she felt tired.
- •The report was deficient in important facts.
- •The soil is deficient in nutrients, so plants do not grow well.
Lacking a particular quality or skill
- •He is deficient in confidence when speaking in public.
- •The team's performance was deficient because of poor training.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "deficient" like "not enough," but in a more formal or serious way—it's about missing what is important
- ✓Picture a glass that should be full of water but is only half full—it's deficient because it does not have enough water
- ✓It's the feeling when you try to do something but realize you don't have all the tools or information you need
- ✓Sounds like "de-FISH-ent" → imagine a fish missing fins, so it cannot swim well because it is missing something important
- ✓Think of a car missing fuel—it cannot run properly because it is deficient in gas
- ✓NOT like "empty" (which means nothing at all), "deficient" means there is some, but not enough
- ✓NOT like "bad" (which means low quality), "deficient" means lacking quantity or necessary parts, not quality
- ✓NOT like "weak" (which means low strength), "deficient" means missing something needed, not just weak
Try Other Words
- •Insufficient: not enough of something (Use when you want to say there is less than needed, often in formal or technical contexts)
- •Inadequate: not good enough or not enough (Use when something does not meet a required standard)
- •Short: less than needed (Use in informal situations, like "short on money")
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "de-" meaning "down" or "away from"
- •Root: "ficient" from Latin "facere" meaning "to make" or "to do"
- •Etymology: From Latin "deficiens," meaning "failing" or "lacking"
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century to describe lack or failure to have enough of something
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in health, nutrition, skills, and quality to describe shortages or missing important parts
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you felt deficient in something important, like knowledge or tools? How did that affect you?
•How can understanding the word "deficient" help you improve something that is not enough in your life or work?
Fill in the blanks
1.The patient was diagnosed as deficient in vitamin ___, which caused weakness.
2.When a plan is deficient ___ details, it often fails to work well.
3.A diet deficient ___ calcium can lead to weak bones.
4.She felt deficient ___ confidence before her big presentation.
5.The soil was deficient ___ nutrients, so the plants did not grow.
6.If someone is deficient ___ skills, they may need more training.
7.The report was deficient ___ important information, so the decision was delayed.