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be deficient


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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•fi•cient /dɪˈfɪʃənt/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. relating to or marked by deficiency:deficient in math skills.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•fi•cient  (di fish′ənt),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. lacking some element or characteristic;
    defective:deficient in taste.
  2. insufficient;
    inadequate:deficient knowledge.

n. 
  1. a person who is deficient, esp. one who is mentally defective.
  • Latin dēficient- (stem of dēficiēns, present participle of dēficere to fail, run short, lack, weaken), equivalent. to dē- de- + fic-, combining form of facere to make, do1 + thematic -i- + -ent- -ent
  • 1575–85
de•fi′cient•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
deficient / dɪˈfɪʃənt/
  1. lacking some essential; incomplete; defective
  2. inadequate in quantity or supply; insufficient
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dēficiēns lacking, from dēficere to fall short; see defectdeˈficiently
'be deficient' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
lack - want

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