Vocabulary in context
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Deficit
A shortfall or deficiency; the amount by which something, especially money, falls short of what is required or expected.
noun💡
Imagine This
Imagine a city's annual budget with a hole in the middle of the cash ledger. The receipts fall short of expenditures by a large amount, creating a visible gap labeled 'Deficit'.
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Sounds Like
DEF-uh-sit
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Looks Like
looks like 'defect' (similar letters and the idea of a shortcoming)
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Remember This
Deficit is often used in finance and economics to describe money shortages; its opposite is surplus.
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Other Forms
deficitsplural noun
deficit spendingnoun phrase
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Connect With
shortfall, deficiency, shortage, undersupply, gap, debt, budget balance
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Note
Don't confuse deficit with 'debit' (money owed) or 'defection' (leaving). In finance, 'deficit' refers to shortfall, not the act of owing money on a loan; context matters (budget deficit, trade deficit, caloric deficit).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The federal budget showed a large deficit after tax cuts and increased spending.
- To lose weight, she created a caloric deficit by consuming fewer calories than she burned.
Synonyms
shortfalldeficiencyshortagegapdrought
Antonyms
surplusexcessprofit
Etymology
From Latin deficit- 'he is lacking, is missing', from deficere 'to fail, be deficient' (de- 'down' + facere 'to do' in origin).
Mnemonic
Deficit reminds you of deficiency: both share the idea of something lacking. Think: de- (down) + fic- (fail/deficiency) + -it, i.e., a down-turned amount that is lacking.
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verbTo cause someone to believe something is true or to take a proposed action by presenting reasons, evidence, or appeals to emotion.
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nounA person who judges the merits and faults of something, such as a work of art, performance, or writing; someone who habitually expresses critical opinions about others' work.
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adjectiveGloomy; sulky; depressed in mood.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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