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

Oshansky set the threshold at three times the minimum adequate food budget.

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“The recent agreements with Stanwell are expected to provide adequate liquidity to mitigate liquidation risks, but a much sought after improvement in met coal markets is needed to preserve longer-term equity value,” UBS says.

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As a result, the U.S. has been increasing efforts to diversify its rare-earths supply and gain reliable and adequate exposure to these elements through its allies.

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You have work to do, if you wish to receive adequate compensation.

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The baristas are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and stable and adequate hours.

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Related Words

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