deficiency disease

noun

: a disease (such as scurvy) caused by a lack of essential dietary elements and especially a vitamin or mineral

Examples of deficiency disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Suffering from a fatal immune deficiency disease, the boy received a stem cell transplant from the umbilical cord of his newborn baby brother while his family was provided on-campus housing for months. Evan Nierman, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2024 Sniderman, an artist and playwright who lives in California, was diagnosed in 2008 with the progressive muscle weakness disease dermatomyositis and later with a primary immune deficiency disease. Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deficiency disease was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near deficiency disease

Cite this Entry

“Deficiency disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficiency%20disease. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

deficiency disease

noun
: a disease (as scurvy or beriberi) caused by a lack of one or more essential substances (as a vitamin or mineral) in the diet

Medical Definition

deficiency disease

noun
: a disease (as scurvy) caused by a lack of essential dietary elements and especially a vitamin or mineral

More from Merriam-Webster on deficiency disease

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!