DEFICIT
deficit, shortage, shortfall
(noun) the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required; “new blood vessels bud out from the already dilated vascular bed to make up the nutritional deficit”
deficit
(noun) an excess of liabilities over assets (usually over a certain period); “last year there was a serious budgetary deficit”
deficit
(noun) (sports) the score by which a team or individual is losing
deficit
(noun) a deficiency or failure in neurological or mental functioning; “the people concerned have a deficit in verbal memory”; “they have serious linguistic deficits”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
deficit (plural deficits)
Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack.
A situation wherein, or amount whereby, spending exceeds government revenue.
Synonyms
• fiscal deficit, shortfall
Antonyms
• superavit
Source: Wiktionary
Def"i*cit, n. Etym: [Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of
L. deficere, cf. F. déficit. See Defect.]
Definition: Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack; as, a
deficit in taxes, revenue, etc. Addison.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition