Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun deficiency

2 senses of deficiency

Sense 1
lack, deficiency, want -- (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")
       => need, demand -- (a condition requiring relief; "she satisfied his need for affection"; "God has no need of men to accomplish His work"; "there is a demand for jobs")

Sense 2
insufficiency, inadequacy, deficiency -- (lack of an adequate quantity or number; "the inadequacy of unemployment benefits")
       => amount -- (the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion; "an adequate amount of food for four people")