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

• lacking
• inadequate
• scarce
• low

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

Hochman dismissed the petition as legally insufficient. —Hannah Parry amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

The program offers a small but meaningful boost to the insufficient number of shelter beds available in the area. —Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025

Existing software solutions may be insufficient, and the public digital infrastructure may be lacking, so projects at the intersection of hardware and software could fill critical gaps. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2025

In World War II, Berlin required the long French and Norwegian coastlines for more reliable egress for its submarines, but that was still insufficient for its navy, let alone its merchant marine. —S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 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