insufficient

adjective

in·​suf·​fi·​cient ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shənt 

: not sufficient : inadequate

insufficient funds

especially : lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence

insufficient bandwidth

insufficiently adverb

Synonyms of insufficient

• lacking
• inadequate
• scarce
• low

Examples of insufficient in a Sentence

The case was thrown out because of insufficient evidence.

there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone

Recent Examples on the Web

Clark supporters argued one game was insufficient for an ejectable non-basketball act. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Spicy crab in the front of the ice bath had insufficient ice. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

In a new study released by the World Monuments Fund (WMF) this week, the nonprofit found that insufficient public funding is the primary threat to heritage sites around the world. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

If the grand jury were to find the evidence insufficient, there would be no criminal case. — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin insufficient-, insufficiens, from Latin in- + sufficient-, sufficiens sufficient

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for insufficient

• beneficent
• coefficient
• inefficient
• deficient
• efficient
• omniscient
• proficient
• sufficient

Kids Definition

insufficient

adjective

in·​suf·​fi·​cient ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfish-ənt 

: not sufficient : inadequate

insufficiently adverb