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deficit

deficit

792 4.3
An amount by which money or resources are less than needed
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛfɪsɪt/
: déficit
  • Balance of payment deficit has nearly reached $4 million.
  • budget deficit
  • trade deficit
  • current account deficit

And if you had, I really see a serious deficit in that regard.

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Examples

  • You're already running a $14 million deficit.

  • America's trade and current account deficits will probably hit $300 billion in 1999.

    Academic text (1999)
  • the United States runs a current account deficit and a budget deficit.

  • When I came into office, we had a billion dollars deficit that first year.

  • This year we're going to have a 500 billion dollar trade deficit with China.

  • As several of you already know, Wilkinson High School has been operating at a budget deficit for several years.

  • The CBO said the plan only reduced the 2012 deficit by $1 billion.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Upon taking office, Klein pledged to eliminate the provincial deficit and eventually the provincial debt.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Martin encapsulated this philosophy in his memorable budget speech: "The debt and deficit are not inventions of ideology."

    Academic text (2017)
  • This year, the government is projecting a significant deficit in the federal budget, which could affect social services.

Synonyms

shortage
vsdeficit
245 2.7

Not having enough of something people need, like food or water

focuses on the missing amount itself rather than the broader situation
budget deficit
vsdeficit
  • Specialized
90 3.7

A situation when a budget has more spending than income, for example for a government or company

is a general amount lacking and not restricted to financial examples
deficiency
vsdeficit
87 4.5

Not having enough of something that is needed

refers specifically to an amount by which something falls short
shortfall
vsdeficit
44 5.5

A smaller amount than people need or expect

is the general term for an amount lacking rather than only measured cases
inadequacy
vsdeficit
28 5.8

A lack of enough skill, quality, or amount to meet a need

points to a short numerical lack rather than failures of quality or skill
dearth
vsdeficit
14 8.5

A lack of things people need, like food or water

expresses the simple missing amount rather than a strong scarcity tone
paucity
vsdeficit
  • Formal
7 8.6

A small amount of something that is not enough

is the neutral measurement of how much is missing rather than a literary term
insufficiency
vsdeficit
2 6.5

A lack of skill, experience, or resources needed for a job

highlights a missing amount rather than broader issues of skill or quality

Antonyms

157 3.1

An amount that is more than what is needed

102 4.1

More than needed or wanted

Compounds

budget deficit
  • Specialized
90 3.7

A situation when a budget has more spending than income, for example for a government or company

trade deficit
  • Specialized
39 4.7

A country buys more from other countries than it sells to them

The amount the federal government spends more than it gets in one year

deficit spending
  • Specialized
18 5.3

Government spends more money than it gets and borrows to pay the difference

15 3.6

A condition that makes it hard to pay attention and sometimes makes people very active or act without thinking

A condition often in children causing trouble paying attention, being very active and acting without thinking

cyclical deficit
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A government budget shortfall that grows in a recession and falls when the economy improves

oxygen deficit
  • Specialized
4.7

A temporary lack of oxygen in the muscles during very hard exercise

How Big

crisis
∞ 3.1
deficit
792 4.3
gap
365 1.7

Surface Forms

deficit singular
deficits plural

Etymology

Deficit comes from an old Latin word deficere that meant 'to be lacking' or 'to fail', and it is related to the English word deficient, which means 'not enough'. So a budget deficit is the amount of money you are 'missing' or do not have.