suboptimal

Also sub·op·ti·mum

[suhb-op-tuh-muhl]

adjective

1. being below an optimal level or standard.

Word History and Origins

Origin of suboptimal¹

First recorded in 1930–35; sub- + optimal

Example Sentences

Sticking with some fixed percentage just felt wrong and suboptimal to me.

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It was another suboptimal week for American politics news.

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But I think in this particular case, that it is suboptimal because it leads Democratic Party voters to be angry with and attack their own party and its leadership.

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“Based on the information provided by the DNA testing kit manufacturer,” the department said, “the use of the affected kits may have led to incomplete or suboptimal results but is not likely to have falsely identified any individual.”

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It does not take an expert to say that getting bowled out in an ODI is suboptimal.

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Related Words

• substandard 

When To Use

What does suboptimal mean?

Suboptimal means below the optimal (best possible) level or standard.The words optimal and optimum both describe an ideal or perfect level, degree, result, or similar thing. Suboptimal means something has fallen short of that level. It is often used in phrases like suboptimal performance and suboptimal conditions.Example: The patient’s heart is performing at a suboptimal level.