deficit
noun [ C ]
uk/ˈdefɪsɪt/ us ECONOMICS, FINANCE
the total amount by which money spent by a business or government is more than the money it receives:
a deficit of £10 million/$1 billion, etc. The two companies between them have reported a deficit of nearly $14bn.
have/run/show a deficit About a third of the nation's non-profit arts presenters run a large deficit each year, according to Charity Navigator.
reduce/cut a deficit
federal/government/public deficit
The US balance of payments deficit was running at over 4% of gross domestic product.
the amount by which something, especially an amount of money, is smaller than it should be:
a pension/pension fund deficit
a deficit in sth The company reported that an estimated $31.5 million deficit in this year's operating budget would end up at about $20 million as a result of savings.
There is a deficit of trust between the customer and the banks, which yesterday's headline figure will do little to dispel.
Compare
surplus
in deficit
used to describe a situation when a business or country has spent more money than it has received, or an amount of money is smaller than it should be:
At the time, the Federal Budget was expected to remain in deficit until at least Fiscal 2011.
At their last valuation, almost all council pension funds were in deficit.
See also
budget deficit
current account deficit
external deficit
trade deficit