Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

deficient

/dɪˈfɪʃənt/ adjective

Latin root: deficiens Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about deficient at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Lacking something essential; often construed with in.
They were deficient in social skills.
Insufficient or inadequate in amount.
Of a number n, Having the sum of divisors σ(n) < 2n, or, equivalently, the sum of proper divisors (or aliquot sum) s(n) < n.

noun

A person who is deficient.

Origin

From Latin deficiens, present participle of deficere (“to lack, fail, be wanting”); see defect.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word