də̇ˈfishənsē, dēˈ-, -si noun
( -es )
Etymology: Late Latin deficientia, from Latin deficient-, deficiens (present participle of deficere to be lacking) + -ia -y
1. : the quality or state of being deficient : defect , inadequacy
so miserably ignorant that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries — H.T.Buckle
2. : inadequate amount : shortage: as
a. : a shortage of substances (as vitamins) necessary to health
b. : absence of one or more genes from a chromosome