noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈdɛfɪsɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈdɛfəsɪt/
CMU ARPABET:D EH1 F AH0 S AH0 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The crop output this year has been comparatively small, owing to the deficit in rainfall.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A situation wherein, or amount whereby, spending exceeds (e.g. government) revenue.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
new blood vessels bud out from the already dilated vascular bed to make up the nutritional deficit
