Word
satisfactory
Phoneticssat·is·fac·to·ry
US/ˌsætəsˈfæktɹi/
UK/sˌætɪsfˈæktəɹˌi/
Definitions
01good enough
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. good enough to meet a need or a rule, but not necessarily great.
adj. meeting requirements or expectations to an adequate degree. Often used in formal assessments to indicate a pass that is not high-level.
Español:satisfactorio
“The teacher said my essay was satisfactory, but I need to work on my spelling.”
“The inspector found the safety measures to be satisfactory, though he suggested several minor improvements for the next quarter.”
Usage
Often used in formal contexts like work reports or school grades.
Pitfall
The food was very satisfactory.
The food was very good.
In modern English, 'satisfactory' is usually for formal reports or standards. Using it for personal enjoyment like food can sound cold or overly formal.
Teaching tip
Help students understand that 'satisfactory' is a 'lukewarm' word; it means something is okay, but it lacks the enthusiasm of 'excellent' or 'great'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02giving pleasure
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. giving you a feeling of being pleased or happy with a result.
adj. yielding satisfaction or contentment; providing a sense of completion or resolution.
“It was a satisfactory end to a very long and difficult day.”
“Finding the missing documents provided a satisfactory conclusion to an investigation that had lasted nearly six months.”
Teaching tip
In this sense, 'satisfying' is much more common in modern spoken English than 'satisfactory'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03religious atonement
C2 · Proficiency Religion Formal · Technical
adj. related to making up for a sin or a wrong act in a religious way.
adj. functioning as atonement or expiation for sin within a theological framework.
“The priest spoke about the satisfactory nature of the sacrifice.”
“The treatise explores the concept of satisfactory penance as a means of reconciling the individual with the community.”
Usage
Used almost exclusively in academic or theological discussions.
Teaching tip
This sense is extremely rare and should only be taught to students reading historical or religious texts.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “satisfactory” in context.
Adjective
01. satisfactory explanation
“The company failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the delay in shipping.”
adj + noun
02. satisfactory result
“After weeks of negotiations, both parties finally reached a satisfactory result.”
adj + noun
03. satisfactory way
“We need to find a satisfactory way to resolve this conflict without further arguments.”
adj + noun
04. experience satisfactory
Real-World Examples
“But the Home Office rejected the application for not meeting the requirements, saying that the identity document submitted was not satisfactory.” “He continues: “For a long period of time it has been recognised that the law is really not satisfactory, because you’ve got two totally competing policy objectives.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French satisfactoire, from Late Latin satisfactōrius, from Latin satisfactus, past participle of satisfaciō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/satisfactory
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0