insufficiency
Americannoun
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deficiency in amount, force, power, competence, or fitness; inadequacy.
insufficiency of supplies.
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an instance of this.
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inability of an organ or other part of the body to function normally.
cardiac insufficiency.
noun
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Also called: insufficience. the state of being insufficient
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pathol failure in the functioning of an organ, tissue, etc
cardiac insufficiency
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of insufficiency
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Late Latin word insufficientia. See insufficient, -ency
Vocabulary lists containing insufficiency
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
What’s more, the information on food insufficiency was self-reported and could be inaccurate.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026
Even the White House communications staff has tacitly admitted that something is going on, though all they will say is Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a conveniently benign condition.
From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2026
He went to Walter Reed three times last year, including a trip to address the swelling of his lower legs, which his doctor diagnosed as chronic venous insufficiency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
"Ultimately, we need to invest in more research about the underlying biology of B12 insufficiency, since it may be a preventable cause of cognitive decline."
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026
But when Arturo didn’t say anything, I felt acutely the meagerness of it, the insufficiency.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
In it, he asked in a general, spiritual way, that God would welcome him to internal life "despite all my sins and insufficiencies".
From Reuters ● Jan. 1, 2023
The script’s insufficiencies are softened by the company’s attitude — warm and inclusive — toward the audience.
From New York Times ● Dec. 14, 2022
Do you have something specific you point to as causing these insufficiencies in the marketplace?
From Slate ● Mar. 26, 2020
“Someones” don’t instinctively parade their insufficiencies on national networks and primetime programs.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2015
Barack and I were focused on only our faults and insufficiencies, seeing them reflected in that drab room and thrown-together party.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
