1. (n.) A lopping off; a diminution; abatement; deficit. Specifically: Reduction of a claim by deducting a counterclaim; set- off.

2. (n.) That which is lopped off, diminished, or abated.

3. (n.) An abstraction of money, etc., by an officer or agent having it in trust; an embezzlement.

abuse abuse of office arrear arrearage arrears befoulment break conversion corrupt administration debasement decline default defect defectiveness deficiency deficit defilement delinquency desecration discontinuity diversion embezzlement failing failure falling short fault fouling gap hiatus imperfection inadequacy inferiority insufficiency interval lack lacuna laxness maladministration malfeasance malpractice malversation misapplication misappropriation misconduct misemployment misfeasance mishandling mismanagement missing link misusage misuse need negligence omission outage paucity peculation perversion pilfering pollution poor stewardship poverty profanation prostitution remissness scant scantiness scarceness short measure shortage shortcoming shortfall slackness slump ullage underage violation want wantage