sufficient

American  

[suh-fish-uhnt] / səˈfɪʃ ənt /

adjective

1. adequate for the purpose; enough.

   sufficient proof;

   sufficient protection.

   Antonyms:

   inadequate, scant, meager

2. Logic. (of a condition) such that its existence leads to the occurrence of a given event or the existence of a given thing.

3. Archaic. competent.

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sufficient British  

/ səˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. enough to meet a need or purpose; adequate

2. logic (of a condition) assuring the truth of a statement; requiring but not necessarily required by some other state of affairs Compare necessary

3. archaic competent; capable

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noun

1. a sufficient quantity

Other Word Forms

• oversufficient
  adjective
• oversufficiently
  adverb
• presufficient
  adjective
• presufficiently
  adverb
• quasi-sufficient
  adjective
• quasi-sufficiently
  adverb
• sufficiently
  adverb
• supersufficient
  adjective
• supersufficiently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sufficient

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin sufficient-, stem of sufficiēns “supplying,” present participle of sufficere “to supply, suffice,” equivalent to suf- suf- + -ficere, combining form of facere “to do, make”; see suffice

Explanation

If you have a sufficient amount of something, it's enough — not too much, not too little, just right. Goldilocks would be pleased. Sufficient comes from a Latin verb meaning "to meet the need." If something is sufficient it has met, or satisfied, a need. Enough is often used as a synonym for sufficient, and when something is not sufficient, it is too little to take care of what's needed. Sufficient can, however, also suggest just enough and not an abundance, as in "the money was sufficient for groceries, but we needed more to fill the gas tank."

Example Sentences

Mostly that pistachios have on and off years, producing significantly less every other year, and need sufficient cooling periods in the winter, which is becoming more challenging in California due to the warming climate.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

That means making sure that vacant directorship positions are filled by qualified experts, the review panels necessary to award grants aren’t disbanded, and staffing is sufficient to meet the scientific and operational demand.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

By 2019, companies like Amazon and Microsoft had developed sufficient “compute” — computing power — to run the math on more complex scenarios that would improve forecasting.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

"Action will be taken if the reports contain sufficient evidence of a crime and it is in the public interest to do so," it said.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Lacking sufficient cash to buy him with, I had to spend my reputation.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• acceptable
• ample
• plentiful
• satisfactory
• tolerable