deficiency

英 [dɪ'fɪʃ(ə)nsɪ] 美[dɪ'fɪʃənsi]

• n. 缺陷，缺点；缺乏；不足的数额

1. the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable;

"there is a serious lack of insight into the problem"

"water is the critical deficiency in desert regions"

"for want of a nail the shoe was lost"

2. lack of an adequate quantity or number;

"the inadequacy of unemployment benefits"