What term describes the deficit of immediate cash available to meet short-term financial obligations?

The term that describes the deficit of immediate cash available to meet short-term financial obligations is liquidity. Liquidity refers to how easily an asset can be converted into cash without significantly affecting its value. A lack of liquidity indicates that there are insufficient liquid assets available to cover immediate financial needs or obligations, which can be critical for individuals or businesses in managing cash flow effectively.

Debt refers to money borrowed that needs to be repaid and does not specifically address the availability of cash for immediate needs. Equity represents ownership in an asset after deducting liabilities and does not pertain directly to cash availability. Investment refers to the act of allocating resources, usually money, to generate income or profit, rather than focusing on the liquidity aspect necessary for short-term obligations.