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carence

deficiency

noun kah-RAHNS Rare
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: From Latin carentia, 'lack'.

Also means

shortfall

Usage Note

Carence commonly refers to a nutritional or vitamin deficiency (e.g. carence en fer — iron deficiency) but also applies to administrative or legal failures to act. In social policy it can mean a 'gap' in provision or a failure of duty. The adjective form carencé describes a person or diet with a deficiency.

Examples

"Il souffre d'une carence en vitamine D."

Natural Translation

He suffers from a vitamin D deficiency.

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