Quranic root
نقص
n · q · ṣ
The root centers on loss, diminution, and deficiency—the opposite of increase.
Its semantic range develops from a thing losing part or becoming less to causing reduction, shortfall, or impairment in something due; related nouns denote the loss itself, a defect, or the amount lost.
- Maqāyīs · row 4730
- Mufradāt · row 1477
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 10
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَقَصَ
naqaṣa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 7 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To become less or deficient; or to reduce, curtail, or take away part of something.
Covers ordinary diminution of an amount, measure, extent, lifespan, or remaining portion. Quranic usage includes active transitive reduction and passive being diminished; grammatical voice and aspect do not create separate senses.
- Lane · entry 44389
- Mufradāt · row 1477
Selected Quran examples
To diminish or withhold something from a person; to fail someone in something owed or expected.
Used with a person as the affected party and the diminished thing as the object. In the Quranic construction of 9:4, it means not failing the addressees in anything.
- Lane · entry 44389
- Mufradāt · row 1477
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:4word 8
“they have failed you”
مَنْقُوصٌ
manqūṣun
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Diminished, reduced, or made deficient through the loss of part.
In the Quran, it describes an allotted share or due that is not reduced or withheld.
- Mufradāt · row 1477
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:109word 20
“being diminished”
نَقْصٌ
naqṣun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Loss, diminution, or shortfall in an amount, share, possession, or state of completeness.
In the Quran, it denotes loss from wealth and lives, and a deficit in produce or other provision; مِنْ may identify what suffers the loss.
- Lane · entry 44396
- Mufradāt · row 1477
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:155word 6
“and loss”
Quran 7:130word 6
“and a deficit”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:155وَنَقْصٍۢand loss
- 7:130وَنَقْصٍۢand a deficit
- 9:4يَنقُصُوكُمْthey have failed you
- 11:84تَنقُصُوا۟decrease
- 11:109مَنقُوصٍۢbeing diminished
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 9 Classical meanings
نَقَصَهُ حَقَّهُ
To diminish or impair another person’s right or due; to deprive, shortchange, or defraud someone of part of it, and sometimes to deny or disacknowledge the right altogether.
A double-transitive construction in which the person and the affected right or due are both expressed or understood.
- Lane · entry 44389
تَنَقَّصَ
To attribute a defect or fault to someone; detract from their reputation, censure or reproach them, or impugn their character.
A lexical use concerning criticism or disparagement of a person rather than the reduction of a material amount.
- Lane · entry 44392
اِسْتَنْقَصَ الثَّمَنَ
To ask, demand, or seek a reduction or abatement in the price.
A Form X commercial construction, especially of a buyer negotiating the price.
- Lane · entry 44395
نَقْصٌ
Weakness of intellect, or weakness with respect to religion and intellect.
Used of a person’s intellectual or religious condition as a specialized extension of deficiency.
- Lane · entry 44396
نُقْصَانٌ
The quantity that has gone or been lost from something that has been decreased or diminished.
Refers to the amount of the loss itself, rather than merely the state or process of diminution.
- Lane · entry 44397
نَقِيصَةٌ
A defect, imperfection, fault, vice, or base quality that leads to deficiency.
May describe a person’s quality, disposition, practice, habit, or action.
- Lane · entry 44398
نَقِيصَةٌ
The act of attributing or imputing defect, fault, or vice to people; censuring, reproaching, or speaking against them.
A substantive use associated with the derived verbs for attributing defects or criticizing character.
- Lane · entry 44398
نَاقِصٌ
Deficient or incomplete; specifically, deficient in weight when said of a coin or other weighed item.
The coin usage concerns an item lighter than the required weight.
- Lane · entry 44399
نَاقِصٌ
In grammar, an incomplete or non-attributive verb.
A technical grammatical term opposed to تامٌّ, a complete verb.
- Lane · entry 44399
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The seven-occurrence Quranic verb group combines active and passive voice, imperfect and imperative inflections, under the normalized dictionary headword نَقَصَ; these are grammatical variants rather than separate public forms.