deficiente

deficient

adjective deh-fee-SYEHN-teh Rare

Also means

poor

Usage Note

Deficiente means falling below an acceptable standard — it modifies both things (infraestructura deficiente, inadequate infrastructure) and, carefully, people (as a clinical descriptor for cognitive or physical impairments, though many prefer more specific terms today). The noun deficiencia (f) refers to the specific lack or deficiency.

Examples

"La iluminación del túnel es deficiente."

Natural Translation

The tunnel's lighting is poor.

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