# insufficiency

/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənˌsi/ (US) · /ɪnsəfˈɪʃənsi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insufficiency
Updated: 2026-06-22

## Definition

a lack of enough of something that is needed. It is often used in medical or technical contexts to describe a failure to provide what is necessary.

For teachers: a state of being insufficient or inadequate for a specific purpose. Frequently used in medical terminology to describe the failure of an organ or system to perform its required function.

## Examples

- The doctor diagnosed heart insufficiency after the test.
- The project failed because of a lack of funding, which led to a severe insufficiency of skilled labor.
- While the initial proposal was ambitious, the committee pointed out a critical insufficiency in the data, suggesting that the results were not statistically significant enough to justify the investment.

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