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

The Associated Press in 2021 investigated how the technology landed a Chicago grandfather in jail after it was used as evidence to charge him with murder, with a judge later dismissing the case due to insufficient evidence. —R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025

Workers claim the organization has insufficient training, abrupt terminations, and inconsistent wages and raises. —Maya Bell, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025

The case was dismissed in July due to insufficient evidence, according to court records. —Emma Moon, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2025

While recent years have seen progress, with the intensity of industrial emissions decreasing by 4.1% between 2019 and 2023, the pace of decarbonisation remains insufficient to meet global net-zero ambitions. —Ankit Mishra, Forbes.com, 6 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