# insufficient

/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/ (US) · /ɪnsəfˈɪʃənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insufficient
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not enough quantity

adjective · CEFR B2

not having enough of something that is needed.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. not good enough

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

not of a high enough quality or strength to do a job.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The evidence was insufficient to prove his guilt.
- The rescue team had to turn back because they had insufficient fuel to reach the summit and return safely.
- Economists argued that the stimulus package was insufficient to prevent a long-term recession, noting that the capital injection failed to reach the most vulnerable sectors of the workforce.

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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.