mancanza

Mancanza is a feminine Italian noun meaning absence, lack, or shortage. It denotes the state of not having enough of something required, or the deficiency or shortcoming of a person, object, or situation. The word is used in everyday speech as well as formal discourse, from journalism and economics to law and medicine. It can describe both tangible shortages, like money or food, and intangible deficiencies, such as lack of trust or experience. When referring to a person’s absence, mancanza is less common than assenza and can carry a nuance of lack or failure to meet expectations.

Etymology and form: Mancanza is formed from the verb mancare, with the productive suffix -anza, yielding a noun that names the state of being lacking. The adjective forms include mancante, describing something that is missing, and mancato, used for something that did not occur or was not achieved.

Usage notes: In medical, legal, or policy texts, “mancanza” often appears in phrases such as “mancanza di prove,” “mancanza di liquidità,” or “mancanza di fondi.” It is closely related to carenza, insufficienza, and assenza, but carries a nuance emphasizing insufficiency rather than mere absence.

Examples: La mancanza di manutenzione ha provocato guasti. La mancanza di risorse sta rallentando il progetto. In alcune formulazioni, la parola si combina con una preposizione: “mancanza di.”