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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.

County, the city of Los Angeles recently gave its workers significant pay raises, which are now a major factor in a nearly $1-billion budget deficit, along with ballooning legal payouts and a weakening national economy.

From

The state’s financial outlook is dire enough that it could swing from earlier projections of a relatively neutral budget to a staggering deficit in the year ahead.

From

In February, Lief learned that she was one of nearly 150 Pasadena teachers being laid off as the district deals with a reported $37-million budget deficit.

From

He treats a trade deficit with Canada or Japan as just as dangerous as economic dependence on China.

From

Former IRS employees blame cuts by billionaire Elon Musk and Republicans for the decline in revenue, which stands to expand the federal deficit ahead of a debt ceiling deadline this summer.

From

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deficient numberdeficit financing