French word

déficit

Pronunciation

IPA/defisit/

Meaning

  • masculine noundeficit

Example

L'entreprise affiche un déficit cette année.

The company is running a deficit this year.

Illustration for déficit (deficit)

More examples

Le gouvernement veut réduire le déficit public.

The government wants to reduce the public deficit.

Core concept

A visible hole in an account balance where receipts fail to cover expenses or another measured need.

Common phrases

  • déficit budgétaire

    budget deficit

  • déficit public

    public deficit

  • réduire le déficit

    reduce the deficit

Similar words

manque: An insufficient amount, number, or sum of money.
dette: Money owed from borrowing or unpaid liabilities.
perte: A financial loss caused by a transaction or activity.

Definition in French

Désigne une insuffisance mesurable, surtout lorsque les dépenses dépassent les recettes d'une entreprise, d'un État ou d'un budget.

Word origin

Déficit entered French from Medieval Latin deficit, a form of Latin deficere meaning "to be lacking," and became a noun for an insufficiency in accounts.

Usage tips

  • The final t in déficit is silent, and the word has three syllables: dé-fi-cit.

Other meanings

  • shortagenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • déficitairein deficitadjective

Word lists with this word