Deficit

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdÉ›fɪsɪt/

Origin

From French déficit, from Latin dēficit.

Full definition of deficit

Noun

1. Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack.
2. A situation wherein, or amount whereby, spending exceeds government revenue.
• 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, "London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013)Economically, too, London is startlingly different. The capital, unlike the country as a whole, has no budget deficit: London’s public spending matches the taxes paid in the city. The average Londoner contributes 70 percent more to Britain’s national income than people in the rest of the country.
• 1996, August 4, It's Time for a Reality Check on the Deficit, But Wall Street, which has a case of deficit-attention disorder, is no longer focused on a balanced budget. "The bond market only worries about one thing at time.

Synonyms

• fiscal deficit

Derived terms

• fiscal deficit
• trade deficit

Related terms

• defect
• defection
• defective
• defector
• deficiency
• deficient