deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deficit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to a shortfall or lack of something, often in financial or economic discussions. Example: "The country is facing a significant budget deficit that needs to be addressed immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The steps included increasing the broader retirement age to 65 and cutting public salaries to bring the deficit down from the current 13.6 percent of G.D.P. to less than 3 percent in 2014.

The New York Times

This month, the Portuguese government agreed with the main opposition party on more austerity measures to cut its deficit faster than planned, to 4.6 percent of Portugal's gross domestic product next year from 9.4 percent last year.

The New York Times

It has acknowledged that the deficit, forecast at 8 percent of G.D.P. this year, needs to fall.

The New York Times

I have always argued that the deficit needs to come down, but at a rate that is credible.

The Guardian - Opinion

So we will stick to our plan on the deficit and continue to use monetary policy to support growth without adding to borrowing or debt.

The Guardian - Opinion

After Cooper's interview, Burnham made it clear that he too supported the idea of a 50p top rate of income tax to help with reduction of the deficit and warned against any move by the party to ape the Conservatives.

The Guardian

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 2.03pm AEST05:03 Bill Shorten asks Abbott: A single income family on $65,000 with two kids will be $6000 worse off due to budget measures, including the family tax benefit B. Abbott says it is a result of Labor's debt and deficit.

The Guardian

The Paris-based thinktank notes the budget deficit has been "significantly reduced since the peak of 2009, but at a slower pace recently notably as growth has been insufficiently tax-rich".

The Guardian - Business

They diagnosed my eldest daughter with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – our local services had missed this totally – and offered therapy to my youngest daughter to help her deal with nightmares.

The Guardian

Related: Labour manifesto pledges to boost minimum wage and cut deficit Miliband is determined to junk the post-Thatcher consensus that promoting economic growth meant protecting "wealth-creators" at the top of society – a view he and his supporters believe was comprehensively disproved by the great recession and its aftermath.

The Guardian

So did our reluctance, until late in the last parliament, to sufficiently illustrate that we took deficit reduction seriously.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing national finance, specify the type of "deficit", such as "budget deficit" or "trade deficit", to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "deficit" and "debt" interchangeably. A "deficit" is an annual shortfall, while "debt" is the accumulation of past deficits.

Linguistic Context

The word "deficit" primarily functions as a noun, denoting a deficiency or shortfall, typically in financial or economic contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and common, often referring to a budget or trade "deficit".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "deficit" is a frequently used noun that describes a deficiency or shortfall, most commonly in financial contexts, as Ludwig AI confirms. It is important to use "deficit" accurately, distinguishing it from related terms like "debt". When using "deficit", consider the specific context, such as "budget deficit" or "trade deficit", for clarity. The prevalence of "deficit" in news and formal business settings indicates its importance in discussing economic matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Budget shortfall

Focuses specifically on a deficiency in budgeted funds.

Financial gap

Highlights the disparity between available resources and needs.

Revenue shortfall

Emphasizes the lack of expected income.

Expenditure excess

Indicates that spending has surpassed income.

Revenue deficiency

Underscores the inadequacy in earnings or income.

Trade imbalance

Specifies a lack of equilibrium in imports and exports.

Fiscal imbalance

Suggests a lack of equilibrium in government finances.

Lack of funds

General term for an inadequacy of financial resources.

Shortage of resources

Broader than finances, includes any type of lacking resource.

Negative balance

Simply states that the balance is less than zero.

FAQs

How is "deficit" typically used in a sentence?

The term "deficit" is often used to describe a situation where expenses exceed income over a specific period. For example, "The country is struggling with a large budget "deficit"".

What are some alternatives to the word "deficit"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "shortfall", "shortage", or "deficiency" to describe a "deficit".

What's the difference between "deficit" and "debt"?

The ""deficit"" refers to the annual difference between government spending and revenue, while "debt" is the accumulation of all past deficits over time.

In economics, is it better to have a "deficit" or a "surplus"?

Generally, a "surplus", where income exceeds expenses, is considered more financially stable than a "deficit", where expenses exceed income. However, some argue a moderate "deficit" can stimulate economic growth.