deficit
UK /ˈdɛfɪsɪt/ · US /ˈdɛfəsɪt/ noun
Forms deficits
- noun Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack. “The crop output this year has been comparatively small, owing to the deficit in rainfall.”
- noun A situation wherein, or amount whereby, spending exceeds (e.g. government) revenue.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From French déficit, from Latin dēficit. Related to defect.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack; as, a deficit in taxes, revenue, etc. Addison.
Etymology [Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of L. deficere, cf. F. déficit. See Defect.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “deficit”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details