insufficient

[in-suh-fish-uhnt]

adjective

1. not sufficient; lacking in what is necessary or required.

   an insufficient answer.

   Synonyms: deficient, scanty, inadequate

2. deficient in force, quality, or amount; inadequate.

   insufficient protection.

insufficient

/ ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. not sufficient; inadequate or deficient

Other Word Forms

• insufficiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of insufficient¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin insufficient-, stem of insufficiēns; equivalent to in- ³ + sufficient

Example Sentences

A court has described the evidence of his connection as “insufficient.”

From Los Angeles Times

These were nearly always approved, even though the agency wrote that finances were an insufficient explanation in a presentation on the permitting process.

From Salon

Two years later it was closed, with the force concluding there was "insufficient evidence to support a realistic prospect of conviction".

From BBC

According to DePree's legal documents, the council has also argued that the planning permission was insufficient to meet the terms for a sale under the agreement.

From BBC

It concluded that while punishment is important, there "has been insufficient focus on reducing crime".

From BBC

Related Words

• deficient 
• faulty 
• inadequate 
• incomplete 
• meager 
• poor 
• scant 
• scarce 
• unsatisfactory