insufficient

adjective

in·​suf·​fi·​cient ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce insufficient (audio)
: not sufficient : inadequate
insufficient funds
especially : lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence
insufficient bandwidth
insufficiently adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meta tweaked the system to bring it in line with EU regulation, but in July the European Commission asked for further changes, implying that the company might face daily fines if the overhaul is deemed insufficient. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 South Park also delivers jokes suggesting the apps are susceptible to price manipulation and have insufficient know-your-customer protocols. Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025 Council President Rebecca Noecker, who voted with the majority, noted the property owner could still make building improvements and then come back to seek a larger rent increase after the fact, but any repairs conducted to date seemed rushed and insufficient. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025 McKinsey data shows that roughly one in four Gen Z employees hold multiple jobs, 26 percent report insufficient pay to support a decent quality of life, and 77 percent are actively seeking new employment—nearly double the rate of older workers. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insufficient

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of insufficient was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insufficient. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

insufficient

adjective
in·​suf·​fi·​cient ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfish-ənt How to pronounce insufficient (audio)
: not sufficient : inadequate
insufficiently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on insufficient

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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