sufficient

[suh-fish-uhnt]

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.

sufficient

/ 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

noun

1. a sufficient quantity

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sufficient¹

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”; suffice

Word History and Origins

Origin of sufficient¹

C14: from Latin sufficiens supplying the needs of, from sufficere to _suffice

Example Sentences

The unsigned order on Monday said that the sporadic violence at protests before an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland was sufficient to trigger the president’s power to federalize the Guard.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Regular cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and sufficient sleep all contribute to better metabolic health.

Read more on Science Daily

The Senate is due to consider legislation midweek that would allow members of the military and other federal workers to receive pay, though it's not clear that the effort has sufficient Democratic buy-in.

Read more on Barron's

"Performance-wise," Stella said, "we are reassured that the pace was sufficient to fight for the victory."

Read more on BBC

If the universal acclaim of “Oklahoma!” will force Hart to confront his professional irrelevance, maybe Elizabeth’s beaming presence — and the promise of them consummating their feelings — will be sufficient compensation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acceptable 
• ample 
• plentiful 
• satisfactory 
• tolerable