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View synonyms for

deficit

[ def-uh-sit; British also dih-fis-it ]

noun

  1. the amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required amount.
  2. the amount by which expenditures or liabilities exceed income or assets.
  3. a lack or shortage; deficiency.
  4. a disadvantage, impairment, or handicap:

    The team's major deficit is its poor pitching.

  5. a loss, as in the operation of a business.


deficit

/ ˈdɛfɪsɪt; dɪˈfɪsɪt /

noun

  1. the amount by which an actual sum is lower than that expected or required
    1. an excess of liabilities over assets
    2. an excess of expenditures over revenues during a certain period
    3. an excess of payments over receipts on the balance of payments
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

deficit

  1. A shortage, especially the amount by which a sum of money falls short of what is required; a debt .
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Other Word Forms

  • p·i· noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of deficit1

First recorded in 1775–85; from Latin ŧھ “(it) lacks,” 3rd-person singular present of ŧھ “to fail, run short, lack, weaken”; deficient
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Word History and Origins

Origin of deficit1

C18: from Latin, literally: there is lacking, from ŧھ to be lacking
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The Clippers cut their deficit to eight at the end of the first half but were sluggish to start the third quarter, putting them in a bind again.

From

Arsenal will feel those opportunities will offer hope in Paris, but they now have to take the game to PSG with measure as they try to claw back this slim deficit.

From

“We don’t want to negotiate ourselves into a structural deficit,” Davenport said in an interview Monday.

From

The university announced last year it was facing a £35m deficit and that hundreds of jobs would be lost.

From

"Girls drop out of sport at such a high rate. There's a massive dream deficit for girls compared to boys," she said.

From

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deficient numberdeficit financing