adequate

[ad-i-kwit]

adjective

1. as much or as good as necessary for some requirement or purpose; fully sufficient, suitable, or fit (often followed by to orfor ).

   This car is adequate to our needs.

   They’ll provide adequate food for fifty people.

   Synonyms: capable, enough, sufficient, competent, satisfactory

2. barely sufficient or suitable.

   Being adequate is not good enough.

3. Law.,  reasonably sufficient for starting legal action.

   adequate grounds.

adequate

/ ˈædɪkwəsɪ, ˈædɪkwɪt /

adjective

1. able to fulfil a need or requirement without being abundant, outstanding, etc

Other Word Forms

• adequately adverb
• adequateness noun
• preadequate adjective
• preadequateness noun
• quasi-adequate adjective
• superadequate adjective
• superadequateness noun
• adequacy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adequate¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin adaequātus “matched” (past participle of adaequāre ); ad-, equal, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of adequate¹

C17: from Latin adaequāre to equalize, from ad- to + aequus _equal

Example Sentences

The outcome has been the exposure of workers’ and beneficiaries’ private personal information to outsiders, all without adequate oversight.

From Los Angeles Times

"Our children deserve better than perpetual crisis; they deserve strategic planning, adequate resources and the dignity of advance preparation."

From BBC

But even if it is - and that is strongly contested - as the current occupying power, Israel has obligations under international law to civilians in Gaza, including providing adequate access to food.

From BBC

"We set up a committee with specific terms of reference," he said, adding that the members worked tirelessly to ensure affected families received adequate support, including shelter and food.

From BBC

In her 2020 trial, Goldie admitted failing to provide her daughter with adequate food, clothing or heating, hitting her, and permitting her to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol.

From BBC

Related Words

• acceptable 
• capable 
• competent 
• decent 
• fair 
• satisfactory 
• sufficient 
• suitable 
• tolerable