deficit
gb/dˈɛfəsɪt/ us/dˈɛfəsɪt/
B2
Engleză
~ 8400
Sensuri
0 sensuri
Substantiv
B2
entity
1
amount that spending exceeds income
The money amount by which someone, usually a government or company, spends more than it gets in a period of time.
Tipar de utilizare:
a [budget/trade] deficit of [amount]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners often confuse 'deficit' with 'debt'. A 'deficit' is the amount by which spending is higher than income in a specific time period, while 'debt' is the total money owed after many years of deficits. Another mistake is saying 'much deficit' instead of 'a big/large deficit' or 'a deficit of $5 million'.
Sinonime
shortfall (A general word for when an amount is less than what is needed or expected; not limited to money but often used for financial gaps.)
|
loss (Often used for businesses spending more than they earn in a period; less technical than 'deficit' and not usually used for governments.)
|
gap (A broad, informal term; can describe the difference between spending and income but is less precise than 'deficit'.)
Antonime
surplus (The standard opposite in public finance; an amount by which income or exports are greater than spending or imports.)
|
profit (Opposite for a business or account over a period; focuses on income being greater than costs, not usually used for governments' overall budgets.)
Colocații
budget deficit
|trade deficit
|fiscal deficit
|current account deficit
|run a deficit
|reduce the deficit
Teme
business
|economics
|politics
|finance
Exemple
- The government is under pressure to cut the budget deficit before the next election.
- Last year the company reported a deficit of $2 million, forcing it to close two factories.
- Rising energy prices have widened the country's trade deficit with its major partners.
- Higher tax revenues helped reduce the fiscal deficit to its lowest level in a decade.
- If we continue to run a deficit at this rate, our national debt will grow quickly.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The government has a big budget deficit this year.
- The company made a deficit of one million dollars.
- They are trying to reduce the deficit by cutting costs.
- Because of the trade deficit, the country imports more than it exports.
- New taxes were introduced to help close the budget deficit.
Substantiv
B2
entity
2
amount missing from what is needed
The amount that is missing because there is not enough of something that is needed or expected.
Tipar de utilizare:
a deficit of [something] / a deficit in [something]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes use 'deficit' where 'difference' is better. A 'deficit' means there is not enough, not just that two numbers are different. For example, 'a height deficit' is odd in everyday speech; 'a height difference' is better. Also, 'deficit' is countable: say 'a deficit of trust', not just 'deficit of trust' without an article.
Sinonime
shortage (Very common and general; describes not having enough of something but does not highlight the exact amount missing.)
|
lack (More general and less quantitative; focuses on something not being present or not being enough, without implying a measured amount.)
|
deficiency (Often slightly more formal or technical, especially for health, nutrition, or quality problems.)
Antonime
abundance (Emphasizes having more than enough of something, the opposite of not having enough.)
|
surplus (Focuses on having extra beyond what is needed; often used when the amount can be measured.)
Colocații
sleep deficit
|skills deficit
|deficit of trust
|deficit of resources
|deficit in communication
|education deficit
Teme
general
|health
|work
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- The report warns of a serious skills deficit in the technology sector.
- Years of underinvestment have created a huge infrastructure deficit in rural areas.
- Most adults suffer from a sleep deficit during the workweek.
- There is a clear deficit of trust between the public and political leaders.
- The charity was founded to address the education deficit faced by disadvantaged children.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- I have a big sleep deficit after working all weekend.
- There is a deficit of doctors in this small town.
- The team has a deficit in communication skills.
- Many schools face a deficit of money and teachers.
- The country has a deficit of safe drinking water.
Substantiv
technical
C1
entity
3
impairment in mental or physical function
A clear problem or weakness in the way the mind or body works, compared to what is normal.
Tipar de utilizare:
a [cognitive/neurological] deficit in [ability]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes use this medical sense in everyday contexts where it sounds too technical, for example saying 'I have a reading deficit' instead of 'I have trouble reading' or 'I am weak at reading'. In medical writing, 'deficit' usually appears with a modifier like 'cognitive', 'neurological', or 'attention'; using it alone can sound vague.
Sinonime
impairment (Very close in meaning in medical and legal contexts; a general term for a reduced ability to function normally.)
|
disorder (Suggests a recognized medical or psychological condition, not just a reduced ability; broader and often more serious.)
|
disability (A strong term for a significant and often long-term limitation in activity or participation; not every 'deficit' counts as a disability.)
Antonime
normal function (Describes the absence of a deficit, where mental or physical abilities work as expected.)
|
strength (Highlights an above-average ability, the opposite of a weakness or deficit in a particular area.)
Colocații
cognitive deficit
|attention deficit
|neurological deficit
|motor deficit
|deficit disorder
|deficit in social skills
Teme
medicine
|psychology
|health
|body
Exemple
- Patients with this condition often show cognitive deficits, especially in memory and attention.
- The scan revealed no neurological deficits following the minor stroke.
- Children with attention deficit may struggle to stay focused in class.
- Early therapy can help reduce language deficits in young children.
- The study found significant motor deficits in the group exposed to the toxin.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The child has an attention deficit and finds it hard to focus.
- After the accident, he had a speech deficit and needed therapy.
- Some patients show memory deficits after surgery.
- The doctor tested her for any vision deficits.
- Training can help people with small social skill deficits.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
deficit
IPA
GB/dˈɛfəsɪt/
US/dˈɛfəsɪt/
Silabe și accent
de - fi - cit (3 silabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (de)
Forme ale cuvântului
Noun
- Base: deficit
- Plural: deficits
Familie de cuvinte
Forms
deficits
noun
Core family
deficient
adjective B2
deficiency
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
surplus
noun B2
Expresii
attention deficit
1/ətˈɛnʃən dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
reduced ability to focus attention
A problem where a person cannot stay focused on tasks as well as most people.
Exemple
- Children with attention deficit may have trouble following instructions.
- The study examined how attention deficit affects academic performance.
- Medication is sometimes used to treat attention deficit in severe cases.
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
1/ətˈɛnʃən dˈɛfəsɪt hˌaɪpɚæktˈɪvɪti dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
ADHD medical condition
A medical condition, often in children, where a person has strong problems with paying attention, sitting still, and controlling actions.
Exemple
- Her son was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the age of eight.
- Teachers received training on how to support students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is often treated with a mix of medication and therapy.
budget deficit
1/bˈʌd͡ʒɪt dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
when government spends more than it gets
The money amount by which a government spends more than it receives in taxes and other income in a given time.
Exemple
- The finance minister promised to halve the budget deficit within three years.
- Economists warned that the growing budget deficit could lead to higher interest rates.
- To reduce the budget deficit, the government cut spending on several major programs.
current account deficit
1/kˈɚənt əkˈaʊnt dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
shortfall on a country’s external account
The money amount by which a country pays more to other countries than it receives from them for trade and other flows in a period.
Exemple
- A large current account deficit can put pressure on a country’s currency.
- The report highlighted a narrowing current account deficit over the past year.
- Foreign investment helped to finance the current account deficit.
deficit spending
1/dˈɛfəsɪt spˈɛndɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
government spending more than income
When a government spends more money than it gets and borrows to pay for the extra spending.
Exemple
- The government defended deficit spending as necessary to boost the economy.
- Critics argue that long-term deficit spending will increase the national debt.
- During recessions, many countries turn to deficit spending to support jobs.
democratic deficit
1/dˌɛməkɹˈætɪk dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
lack of sufficient democracy or representation
A problem in a political system where people do not have as much real power or voice as they should in a democracy.
Exemple
- Critics argue that the organization suffers from a serious democratic deficit.
- Reforms were proposed to address the democratic deficit within the union’s institutions.
- Low voter turnout is often seen as a sign of a democratic deficit.
fiscal deficit
1/fˈɪskəl dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
overall government financial shortfall
The total amount by which a government’s spending is higher than its income in a financial year.
Exemple
- The country aims to keep the fiscal deficit below three percent of GDP.
- A high fiscal deficit can undermine investor confidence.
- International lenders demanded a plan to cut the fiscal deficit.
run a deficit
1/ɹˈʌn ə dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
have spending exceed income
To spend more money than you receive during a period, especially as a government or organization.
Exemple
- The city has been running a deficit for the past five years.
- If we continue to run a deficit, we will eventually have to raise taxes.
- The charity cannot afford to run a deficit on this project.
sleep deficit
1/slˈip dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
not getting enough sleep over time
The missing hours of sleep when someone regularly sleeps less than they need.
Exemple
- Many workers build up a large sleep deficit during the week.
- A chronic sleep deficit can harm your health and mood.
- He used the weekend to recover from his sleep deficit.
trade deficit
1/tɹˈeɪd dˈɛfəsɪt/
fixed phrase
when imports are greater than exports
The money amount by which a country buys more from other countries than it sells to them in a certain time.
Exemple
- The country's trade deficit with its largest partner reached a record high last year.
- A shrinking trade deficit can be a sign of a stronger export sector.
- New tariffs were introduced in an effort to reduce the trade deficit.