Deficients

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A state of lacking essential qualities or attributes, resulting in inadequacy or insufficiency in certain aspects
2. Referring to individuals or entities that do not meet required standards or necessary levels of performance
3. Denoting something that is insufficient or imperfect in the context of achieving a specific purpose or goal

Etymology: "Deficients" is simply the plural of "deficient," used as a noun to mean things or people that are lacking or falling short. The adjective "deficient" comes from Latin "deficiens," the present participle of "deficere," meaning "to lack, fail, or be wanting." That Latin verb combined "de-," meaning "down" or "away," with "facere," "to make or do," so its core sense is something like "to come undone" or "to fall away from" a required state. The same root gives English "defect," which shares that sense of falling short of a standard. Over time, "deficient" settled into describing something that does not provide enough of what is needed for a particular aim, which is the sense the plural noun carries here.

Synonyms: inadequates, insufficients, lacking, imperfects, incompletes

Antonyms: sufficients, competents, abundants, completes, adequates