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

“We doubt that there is sufficient bipartisan support to pass the legislation through the full Senate,” wrote Stifel Chief Washington Policy Strategist Brian Gardner in a research note this week.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

“I think we have sufficient capacity to meet the forecast that we intend. Is that the right number? Probably not, but we will see.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Sarah said that Lily's Austrian passport states she was born in Britain, and that she also offered to show her birth certificate as proof - but was told this wouldn't be sufficient.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

The piece argues that Pratt showed sufficient composure and charm while displaying deference to moderators and occasionally yielding speaking time to Bass, though the article notes he occasionally lapsed into mockery and made unsubstantiated characterizations.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

I hope you will find this tale of sufficient interest to yourself and your readers to warrant its publication.

From "Bunnicula" by Deborah Howe and James Howe

Related Words

• acceptable
• ample
• plentiful
• satisfactory
• tolerable