unsatisfactory
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unsatisfactory
First recorded in 1630–40; un- 1 + satisfactory
Explanation
Baking a cake without following the recipe is likely to lead to an unsatisfactory outcome; the cake will likely be disappointing because it doesn't meet your expectations. The word unsatisfactory is used to describe something that fails to meet the desired standards. Whether it's a school project, a meal at a restaurant, or a customer service experience, if it doesn’t live up to what you hoped for, it's considered unsatisfactory. This term often conveys disappointment and the need for improvement. For example, if a test score is unsatisfactory, it means the grade is below what is acceptable or needed.
Vocabulary lists containing unsatisfactory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The budget includes Newsom’s proposal to shift enrollees with unsatisfactory immigration status, a term that includes undocumented immigrants and others, from managed care to fee-for-service to save costs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
But the 2023 review found "no evidence" that the board had discussed the letter, with the new chief executive concluding that the response was "unsatisfactory".
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
The company then introduced an access fee -- a remedy the EU rejected in April as unsatisfactory.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
“The first quarter of 2026 was unsatisfactory for us, with weather-related supply-chain disruptions and pressure on freight rates leading to significantly lower results,” Chief Executive Rolf Habben Jansen said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
He was given an unsatisfactory evaluation rating, placed on probation for a year, and had his salary frozen.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
