adjective

deficient

dih-FIH-shuhnt

adjective

Lacking something necessary or sufficient; inadequate.

"His diet was deficient in essential vitamins."

"The bridge was found structurally deficient after the inspection."

How to Use Deficient

Learner’s notes

Common pairings

deficient in nutritionally deficient

more deficient comparative, deficients plural, most deficient superlative

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His diet was _____ in essential vitamins.

From Latin dēficiēns, the present participle of dēficere ("to lack, fail"), the same root as "defect."

orient ancient patient salient ambient lenient obedient nutrient gradient sentient impatient transient