operating at a deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "operating at a deficit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial contexts to describe a situation where expenses exceed revenues or income. Example: "The company has been operating at a deficit for the past three quarters, prompting management to reevaluate its budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

NewYork-Presbyterian would absorb the cost of the hospital's maternity and neonatal intensive care units, which have been expanding because of demand, but have been operating at a deficit of more than $1 million a year, the proposal said.

The New York Times

The federal guarantor is already operating at a deficit.

The New York Times

Lately, she said, it had been operating at a deficit.

The New York Times

But the government is operating at a deficit.

The New York Times - Magazine

The 2002 deadline came and went with the railway still operating at a deficit.

The New York Times

Five of the six state-owned shipyards were operating at a deficit, despite repeated attempts to make them more competitive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

The Forest Service's program in the Tongass already operates at a deficit of about $30 million a year, meaning that the federal government pays that much more to build roads and maintain the forest than it takes in from timber companies, which grind most of the trees to a pulp that is sold for export.

The New York Times

The club emerged from bankruptcy proceedings two years ago but has operated at a deficit.

The New York Times - Sports

The club emerged from bankruptcy proceedings two years ago but operates at a deficit.

The New York Times - Sports

"He went out and did it, even if he operates at a deficit," Mr. Medina said.

The New York Times

The department, which operated at a deficit, welcomed doctors with high-volume practices.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an organization's financial status, use "operating at a deficit" to clearly convey that its expenses exceed its revenues over a specific period.

Common error

Avoid using "operating at a deficit" interchangeably with "having debt". A deficit refers to a shortfall in a specific period, while debt is the accumulation of past deficits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "operating at a deficit" functions as a descriptive verb phrase, typically modifying a noun (company, organization, government) to indicate its financial status. Ludwig's examples show its use in reporting on financial performance, often in news or business contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "operating at a deficit" is a common way to describe a situation where an entity's expenses exceed its income. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, particularly in news, business, and encyclopedic reporting. While alternatives like "running a deficit" or "incurring losses" exist, the core meaning remains consistent: a financial shortfall. When using the phrase, it's important to distinguish a deficit from overall debt and to consider the time period being discussed. Ludwig examples show that the phrase is frequently used to inform or report on the financial status of organizations, governments, or specific projects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

running a deficit

Replaces "operating" with "running", implying a continuous state of financial shortfall.

incurring losses

Focuses on the act of accumulating financial losses rather than the state of operating.

experiencing a shortfall

Highlights the difference between what is needed and what is available financially.

losing money

A simpler, more direct way of saying that expenses exceed income.

in the red

An idiomatic expression indicating a state of debt or financial loss.

financially unsustainable

Describes a situation that cannot be maintained in the long term due to financial losses.

not breaking even

Indicates that income is not sufficient to cover expenses.

underperforming financially

Focuses on the financial results failing to meet expectations.

making a loss

Similar to "losing money" but emphasizes the act of making a loss.

cash flow negative

A technical term indicating that more money is flowing out than in.

FAQs

How to use "operating at a deficit" in a sentence?

You can use "operating at a deficit" to describe a company, organization, or government whose expenses exceed its income during a specific period. For example: "The hospital has been "operating at a deficit" for the past two years.".

What can I say instead of "operating at a deficit"?

You can use alternatives like "running a deficit", "incurring losses", or "experiencing a shortfall" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "operating at a deficit" or "operating at a surplus"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have opposite meanings. "Operating at a deficit" means expenses exceed income, while "operating at a surplus" means income exceeds expenses.

What's the difference between "operating at a deficit" and "having debt"?

"Operating at a deficit" describes a financial situation in a specific period, where expenses exceed income. "Having debt" refers to the cumulative amount owed based on past financial activity. An entity can "operating at a deficit" without necessarily accumulating a large amount of "debt", and vice versa.