# dissatisfied

/dɪˈsætəsˌfaɪd/ (US) · /dɪsˈætɪsfˌaɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dissatisfied
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

feeling unhappy or disappointed because something is not as good as you expected. You use this when a service, a product, or a situation fails to meet your needs.

For teachers: feeling a lack of satisfaction or contentment with a specific outcome, service, or state of affairs. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel', 'seem', or 'remain'.

## Examples

- The customer was dissatisfied with the slow service.
- Many employees felt dissatisfied with the new office policy and requested a meeting with management.
- Public opinion polls suggest that the electorate is increasingly dissatisfied with the government's inability to curb inflation despite several aggressive interest rate hikes.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am dissatisfied of the results" but "I am dissatisfied with the results" — Dissatisfied takes the preposition 'with', not 'of' or 'from'.

## Usage notes

- Commonly followed by the preposition 'with'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.