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

Sufficient gain, a durable first wall and effective tritium breeding are the essential technical advances on the path to practical fusion energy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Sufficient notice of the vote required under the Open Public Meetings Act also was not given, they argue.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2023

Sufficient funds did not exist to make the migration possible.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Sufficient sleep is key to teen health, but many things prevent adolescents from getting enough of it.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2022

Sufficient guards and staff-officers will be detailed to carry out these orders.

From Nurse and Spy in the Union Army The Adventures and Experiences of a Woman in Hospitals, Camps, and Battle-Fields by Edmonds, S. Emma E.

Related Words

• acceptable
• ample
• plentiful
• satisfactory
• tolerable