adjective
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adequate or suitable; acceptable
a satisfactory answer
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giving satisfaction
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constituting or involving atonement, recompense, or expiation for sin
Other Word Forms
- presatisfactory adjective
- satisfactorily adverb
- satisfactoriness noun
Etymology
Origin of satisfactory
First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin satisfactōrius, from Latin satisfac(ere) “to do enough” ( satisfaction ( def. ) ) + -tōrius -tory 1
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.
"What we are trying to do is to really make sure that the concerns that have been expressed, notably by Belgium and the prime minister, are addressed in a satisfactory manner," she said.
From Barron's
Australia could field any one from about six different XIs, none of which seem entirely satisfactory.
From BBC
"I can't give you a satisfactory answer to that because it's not satisfactory," Howe said, when asked about the contrast in away results.
From BBC
But negotiations over Russell's contract still took some time as he and the team negotiated satisfactory mutual terms.
From BBC
The minister's response to follow-up questions on women's rights in Afghanistan may not have been satisfactory.
From BBC
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.
