deficiency
nounADJ.
major, serious, severe | slight, small | dietary, nutritional | enzyme, hormone, mineral, nutrient, vitamin | calcium, iron, etc.
VERB + DEFICIENCY
have, suffer from
suffering from a severe vitamin deficiency| correct, make good, make up, overcome, remedy
I've been prescribed iron tablets to make up the deficiency. An engineer could remedy the deficiencies in the design.PREP.
~ in
serious deficiencies in the health service