DEFICIENCY

[noun] - (a) lack of what is neededPregnant women often suffer from iron deficiency. [U]There's a deficiency of really good books on this subject. [C]The deficiency is not in the quality of women in positions of power, but in the quantity. [C]Deficiencies (= weaknesses) in the education system have been much in the news. [C]A deficiency disease is a disease which is caused by not eating enough of particular types of food that are necessary for good health.Scurvy is a deficiency disease which you can get if you don't eat enough Vitamin C.