adequacy
noun
ad·e·qua·cy
ˈa-di-kwə-sē 
plural adequacies
: the quality or state of being adequate
Did you know?
When we question the adequacy of health-care coverage, or parking facilities, or school funding, we're asking if they are equal to our need. The adjective adequate means "enough" or "acceptable"—though in sentences like "His performance was adequate", it really means "no better than acceptable".
Examples of adequacy in a Sentence
the fire department sent someone to determine the adequacy of the building's evacuation plan
Recent Examples on the Web
Liquidity Check-Up: Assess the adequacy of liquid assets to provide a financial cushion during economic uncertainties.
6.
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Ira Walker, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
In Michigan, the public service commission is fighting to restore resource adequacy after partial deregulation resulted in reliability issues and cost shifts to regulated customers when the unregulated energy providers failed to procure regional capacity.
—Ed Hirs, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
The filing also highlights the company's strategic initiatives, including optimizing its portfolio and improving underwriting results through selective underwriting and rate adequacy.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
The filing also details various regulatory matters, including capital adequacy requirements.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adequacy
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Ira Walker, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
In Michigan, the public service commission is fighting to restore resource adequacy after partial deregulation resulted in reliability issues and cost shifts to regulated customers when the unregulated energy providers failed to procure regional capacity.
—Ed Hirs, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
The filing also highlights the company's strategic initiatives, including optimizing its portfolio and improving underwriting results through selective underwriting and rate adequacy.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
The filing also details various regulatory matters, including capital adequacy requirements.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adequacy
Cite this Entry
“Adequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adequacy. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
adequacy
noun
ad·e·qua·cy
ˈad-i-kwə-sē
plural adequacies
: the quality or state of being adequate
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