deficit meaning and definition

DEFICIT noun

Definition of deficit (noun)

1. the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required
   • "new blood vessels bud out from the already dilated vascular bed to make up the nutritional deficit"
   • synonyms: shortage, shortfall
2. a deficiency or failure in neurological or mental functioning
   • "the people concerned have a deficit in verbal memory"; "they have serious linguistic deficits"
3. (sports) the score by which a team or individual is losing
   • antonym: lead
4. an excess of liabilities over assets (usually over a certain period)
   • "last year there was a serious budgetary deficit"