Word
insufficient
Phoneticsin·suf·fi·cient, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
UK/ɪnsəfˈɪʃənt/
Definitions
01not enough quantity
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not having enough of something that is needed.
adj. lacking in the required amount or quantity to satisfy a particular purpose.
“The hikers had to turn back because they had insufficient water for the long trip.”
“The project was delayed indefinitely due to insufficient funding from the primary investors during the first quarter.”
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive 'to' phrase.
Pitfall
The food was insufficient for we all.
The food was insufficient for all of us.
Insufficient is an adjective; it describes the noun (food) and usually takes a prepositional phrase starting with 'for'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02not good enough
C1 · Advanced Formal · Academic
adj. not of a high enough quality or strength to do a job.
adj. failing to meet a qualitative standard or lacking the necessary power or evidence to be effective.
“The police released the suspect because there was insufficient evidence to charge him.”
“The candidate's previous experience was deemed insufficient for the demands of a senior executive role in such a competitive market.”
Teaching tip
This sense is very common in legal, academic, and professional reports where 'not enough' might sound too casual.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “insufficient” in context.
Verb
01. deem the evidence insufficient
“The judge decided to dismiss the case after he deemed the evidence insufficient for a conviction.”
verb + noun + adj
02. prove insufficient
“The initial funding proved insufficient to cover the rising costs of the infrastructure project.”
verb + adj
03. render the efforts insufficient
“The sudden change in market conditions rendered their previous efforts insufficient to maintain growth.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
04. insufficient to meet the demand
“Local food banks are struggling because current donations are insufficient to meet the demand.”
adj + infinitive
05. woefully insufficient
“The emergency services were criticized because their response time was woefully insufficient during the crisis.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. insufficient grounds for dismissal
“The tribunal ruled that there were insufficient grounds for dismissal, ordering the company to reinstate the employee.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
07. insufficient resources
“Many rural schools are falling behind due to insufficient resources and a lack of qualified staff.”
adj + noun
08. insufficient evidence
Real-World Examples
“But in its May 2026 position statement , IAPMD noted that “there is insufficient evidence to conclude that histamine tolerance, mast cell activation, or related immune mechanisms are a primary cause of [pre-menstrual disorders]”.” “Workers at Groundforce, who number 1,179 at Spain's second busiest airport, cite poor working conditions, physical fatigue, stress, unpaid overtime and insufficient rest periods as the reasons for holding the strike.” Etymology
From Middle French insufficient, from Latin insufficiens. See also in- + sufficient.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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