What it means
Not enough of a needed substance. Examples are iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and growth hormone deficiency. A deficiency can come from too little intake, poor absorption, extra loss or the body not making enough.
At a glance
| Spanish | deficiencia, carencia |
|---|---|
| Also written | deficiencies, deficient |
Related terms
vitamin
A substance the body needs in small amounts for normal growth and function, mostly from food.
immunodeficiency
A state in which the immune system is weaker than normal and cannot fight infection well.
iron-deficiency anemia
Anemia caused by too little iron in the body, so the bone marrow cannot make enough hemoglobin.
malnutrition
Poor nutrition from too little, too much or the wrong balance of nutrients.