insufficient

adjective

in·​suf·​fi·​cient ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shənt 

: not sufficient : inadequate

insufficient funds

especially : lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence

insufficient bandwidth

insufficiently adverb

Synonyms

• deficient
• inadequate
• lacking
• low
• scarce
• short
• shy
• wanting

Examples of insufficient in a Sentence

The case was thrown out because of insufficient evidence.

there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone

Recent Examples on the Web

That proposal was rejected due to insufficient funding. —David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

During that time, Israel allowed in a fluctuating, almost always insufficient number of aid trucks. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 11 June 2025

One study found that aged garlic had protective effects against neurodegenerative disorders, including cerebral ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the brain) and Alzheimer's disease.10 8. —Kathi Valeii, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025

Consumer Reports, the nonprofit consumer product testing organization, said the company's remedy is insufficient. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin insufficient-, insufficiens, from Latin in- + sufficient-, sufficiens sufficient

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for insufficient

• beneficent
• coefficient
• inefficient
• deficient
• efficient
• omniscient
• proficient
• sufficient

Kids Definition

insufficient

adjective

in·​suf·​fi·​cient ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfish-ənt 

: not sufficient : inadequate

insufficiently adverb