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”; 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

The management companies now say they are entitled to another half-billion dollars if the more valuable of those REITs succeeds in selling a sufficient number of hotels.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

The findings confirmed that even compact tools were sufficient to meet key objectives, including identifying rocks important for astrobiology and resource exploration.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

They said in a court filing that a “time served” sentence, followed by supervised release, was sufficient.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

He said the Home Office "made manifest errors", including failing to provide "appropriate and sufficient reasons to justify" awarding the contract to MTC.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

A sufficient interval having elapsed for the performers to resume their ordinary costume, they re-entered the dining-room.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• acceptable
• ample
• plentiful
• satisfactory
• tolerable