insufficiency

noun

in·​suf·​fi·​cien·​cy ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē 

plural insufficiencies

1

: the quality or state of being insufficient: such as

a

: lack of mental or moral fitness : incompetence

the insufficiency of this person for public office

b

: lack of adequate supply

insufficiency of provisions

c

: lack of physical power or capacity

especially : inability of an organ or body part to function normally

renal insufficiency

2

: something that is insufficient or falls short of expectations

Synonyms

• crunch
• dearth
• deficiency
• deficit
• drought
• drouth
• failure
• famine
• inadequacy
• inadequateness
• lack
• lacuna
• paucity
• pinch
• poverty
• scantiness
• scarceness
• scarcity
• shortage
• undersupply
• want

Examples of insufficiency in a Sentence

dealt with the school's insufficiency of art supplies by buying materials out of her own pocket

her alleged insufficiency for the job

Recent Examples on the Web

But there’s a catch: Roughly 50% of the population suffers from vitamin D insufficiency. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025

France: Enhancing diets There’s perhaps no better sign of the incomplete progress made on nutrition than the resurgence of diseases of nutritional insufficiency that should be easy to eradicate. —Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

In addition to systemic barriers that Black mothers already face, cervical insufficiency is quite difficult to diagnose. —Essence, 11 Apr. 2025

While hospitalized, the pope was also diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection and then mild renal insufficiency but appeared to have overcome those issues as well. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for insufficiency

• inefficiency
• deficiency
• efficiency
• proficiency
• sufficiency
• immunodeficiency

Kids Definition

insufficiency

noun

in·​suf·​fi·​cien·​cy ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfish-ən-sē 

plural insufficiencies

1

: the quality or state of being insufficient

2

: a lack of something : deficiency

Medical Definition

insufficiency

noun

in·​suf·​fi·​cien·​cy ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfish-ən-sē 

plural insufficiencies

: the quality or state of not being sufficient: as

a

: lack of adequate supply of something

an insufficiency of vitamins

b

: lack of physical power or capacity

especially : inability of an organ or bodily part to function normally

renal insufficiency

pulmonary insufficiency

insufficient

-ənt 

adjective

insufficient blood flow to the brain