deficit

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɛfɪsɪt/ (UK); /ˈdɛfəsɪt/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French déficit (late 17th century),^[2][3] from Latin dēficit (“it is wanting”), the third person singular present of dēficere, to fail, be lacking (see deficient, defect),^[2][3][4][5] from dē-, down, away, and facere, to do, make.^[3] The Latin word introduced clauses in inventories^[3] and was formerly written against a missing item in an account.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A falling short in amount, especially of money: 1782.^[2][6][3][5]

Semantic evolution

Deficit spending, government spending in excess of revenue, is from 1941, and deficit financing from 1943.^[6] A deficiency or impairment in mental or physical functioning, and an unfavourable position, are later extensions.^[7]

Timeline

• 1782 – a shortfall.^[6]
• 1941 – deficit spending.^[6]
• 1943 – deficit financing.^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The amount by which a sum of money falls short of what is needed or expected.
2. An excess of expenditure over revenue, or of liabilities over assets.
3. A lack or impairment, especially of a mental or physical function.
4. A disadvantage, as being behind in a game.

Word family

• attention deficit disorder
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• deficit spending

Related words

• defect
• defection
• defective
• defector
• deficiency
• deficient
• surplus

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin