If someone or something is deficientin a particular thing, they do not have the full amount of it that they need in order to function normally or work properly.
[formal]
...a diet deficient in vitamin B. [+ in]
Deficient is also a combining form.
Vegetarians can become iron-deficient.
2. adjective
Someone or something that is deficient is not good enough for a particular purpose.
[formal]
...deficient landing systems.
Synonyms: unsatisfactory, poor, inadequate, weak More Synonyms of deficient
More Synonyms of deficient
deficient in British English
(dɪˈfɪʃənt)
adjective
1.
lacking some essential; incomplete; defective
2.
inadequate in quantity or supply; insufficient
Derived forms
deficiently (deˈficiently)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin dēficiēns lacking, from dēficere to fall short; see defect
deficient in American English
(diˈfɪʃənt; dɪˈfɪʃənt)
adjective
1.
lacking in some essential; incomplete; defective
2.
inadequate in amount, quality, or degree; not sufficient
noun
3.
a deficient person or thing
Derived forms
deficiently (deˈficiently)
adverb
Word origin
L deficiens: see deficiency
Examples of 'deficient' in a sentence
deficient
If you crave salt you may be zinc deficient and need the salt to taste your food.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Modern processed diets are very deficient in it.
Mumby, Keith The Allergy Handbook (1988)
But some groups of people may be deficient in nutrients and could benefit.
The Sun (2007)
How then could anyone in such circumstances become protein deficient?
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
So if you eat good quality protein and are not vitamin or mineral deficient you can afford to eat less than this.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
What is the unique place of preaching that means that something is still deficient if the church does not engage in it?
Christianity Today (2000)
They said obese mums are often iron deficient themselves, causing the problem.
The Sun (2011)
It's unusual for anyone to be seriously vitamin deficient in this country.
The Sun (2015)
He is often found deficient because he's neglected this area.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His hair is very dry and fine - could he be vitamin deficient?
The Sun (2013)
We need to remember that low-fat diets are deficient in essential fats.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Or that he'll become deficient in something.
The Sun (2009)
Most of the population in Britain are also fed a magnesium deficient diet.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
The major muscles of the heart can themselves become deficient in oxygen due to partial blockage of the vessels supplying them with blood.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
It is certain that once the ovaries have been removed with the uterus, a woman becomes testosterone deficient.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Not merely their discipline and leadership but also their training was to be found seriously deficient in the day's fighting.
Hugh Bicheno REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003)
A component of the glucose tolerance factor, and often deficient in chronic illness.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
And that lack of sunshine can make you vitamin D deficient.
The Sun (2014)
Some of his opponents claimed that, as an albino, he was mentally deficient and was unable to think clearly in sunlight.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If it doesn't it is possible that vitamin K may be deficient.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
This is because farmed food was deficient in vitamin D, a vital nutrient.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
deficient
British English: deficient ADJECTIVE
If someone or something is deficient in a particular thing, they do not have the full amount of it that they need in order to function normally or work properly.
...a diet deficient in vitamin B.
American English: deficient
Brazilian Portuguese: deficiente
Chinese: 缺乏的
European Spanish: insuficiente
French: pauvre
German: unzulänglich
Italian: carente
Japanese: 不足した
Korean: 결핍된
European Portuguese: deficiente
Latin American Spanish: insuficiente
Chinese translation of 'deficient'
deficient
(dɪˈfɪʃənt) (frm)
adj
(= inadequate) 缺乏的 (quēfá de)
to be deficient in sth (= lacking) 缺乏某物 (quēfá mǒuwù)
1 (adjective)
Definition
lacking something essential
a diet deficient in vitamins
Synonyms
lacking
Why was military intelligence so lacking?
wanting
I feel as if something important is wanting in my life.
needing
short
Money was short in those days.
inadequate
Supplies of food and medicine are inadequate.
insufficient
There was insufficient evidence to proceed.
scarce
Food was scarce and expensive.
scant
There is scant evidence of strong economic growth to come.
meagre
a meagre 3% pay rise
skimpy
skimpy underwear
scanty
So far, what scanty evidence we have points to two subjects.
exiguous (formal)
2 (adjective)
Definition
inadequate in quantity or quality
deficient landing systems
Synonyms
unsatisfactory
The inspectors said a third of lessons were unsatisfactory.
poor
The meal was very poor.
He was a poor actor.
inadequate
She felt quite painfully inadequate in the crisis.
weak
His eyesight had always been weak.
flawed
the unique beauty of a flawed object
inferior
These recordings are of inferior quality.
impaired
The blast left him with permanently impaired vision.
faulty
They will repair the faulty equipment.
incomplete
Some offices had incomplete information on spending.