Word
unsatisfactory
Phoneticsun·sat·is·fac·to·ry, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌənsətɪsˈfæktɝi/
UK/ʌnsˌætɪsfˈæktəɹˌi/
Definition
adj. not good enough to meet a standard or a requirement. You use this to describe something that is disappointing or fails to do what it should.
adj. failing to meet a required standard, expectation, or set of criteria. Often used in formal assessments or professional feedback to indicate that a result is unacceptable.
Examples
“The student's explanation for being late was unsatisfactory.”
“After reviewing the initial draft, the manager found the quality of the research unsatisfactory and requested a complete rewrite.”
“The committee deemed the safety measures unsatisfactory, citing several critical vulnerabilities that had been overlooked during the initial inspection phase.”
Examples
simple
“The student's explanation for being late was unsatisfactory.”
contextual
“After reviewing the initial draft, the manager found the quality of the research unsatisfactory and requested a complete rewrite.”
complex
“The committee deemed the safety measures unsatisfactory, citing several critical vulnerabilities that had been overlooked during the initial inspection phase.”
Usage
Commonly follows linking verbs such as 'be', 'seem', or 'remain'.
Pitfall
The results were very unsatisfying.
The results were very unsatisfactory.
Learners often confuse 'unsatisfying' (not giving a feeling of pleasure or fulfillment) with 'unsatisfactory' (not meeting a required standard).
Real-World Examples
“The RPC review, which did not name Prof Ian Brown but referred to "Dr Y", found out of the 20 cases reviewed, 15 were "unsatisfactory overall".” “The lunch is unsatisfactory, an attempt at intimacy that the narrator acknowledges afterwards to have been a mistake.” Etymology
From un- + satisfactory.
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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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