Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

deficiency

 noun
     
de‧fi‧cien‧cy plural deficiencies [uncountable and countable] formal
1 a lack of something that is necessary [= shortage]
deficiency of
a deficiency of safe play areas for children
iron/vitamin etc deficiency
Some elderly people suffer from iron deficiency in their diet.
2 a weakness or fault in something
deficiency in
There are deep deficiencies in this law.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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