INSUFFICIENT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does insufficient mean? 

• INSUFFICIENT (adjective)
  The adjective INSUFFICIENT has 1 sense:

1. of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

  Familiarity information: INSUFFICIENT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INSUFFICIENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

Synonyms:

deficient; insufficient

Context example:

insufficient funds

Similar:

depleted; low (no longer sufficient)

inadequate; jejune; poor; short (of insufficient quantity to meet a need)

lean; skimpy (containing little excess)

light; scant; short (less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so)

shy (short)

Also:

meager; meagerly; meagre; scrimpy; stingy (deficient in amount or quality or extent)

Attribute:

quantity (an adequate or large amount)

Antonym:

sufficient (of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant)

Derivation:

insufficiency (lack of an adequate quantity or number)

 Context examples 

Abnormal ovarian or testicular function due to insufficient hormonal stimulation from the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

(Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder of cardiac function caused by insufficient blood flow to the muscle tissue of the heart.

(Ischemic Heart Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

But these measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged to confess to her soon afterwards.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

That Edmund must be for ever divided from Miss Crawford did not admit of a doubt with Fanny; and yet, till she knew that he felt the same, her own conviction was insufficient.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Insufficient information on the labels or in the manuals related to a device's instructions for use e.g. steps that are difficult to follow or that are missing.

(Inadequate Instructions for Device Use Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

Not predictive of abnormal acid-base status at time of observation but insufficient to classify pattern as Category I or III.

(Indeterminate Continuous Cardiotocography Pattern, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by substernal discomfort due to insufficient myocardial oxygenation.

(Angina, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Despite insufficient evidence establishing the effectiveness of omega-3s, clinicians and their patients have been inclined to try the supplements for a variety of conditions with inflammatory components, including dry eye.

(Omega-3s from fish oil supplements no better than placebo for dry eye, National Institutes of Health)

Lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support trees or woody plants.

(Arid, NOAA Paleoclimate Glossary)

Insufficient information to answer the primary clinical question.

(Non-diagnostic Quality, NCI Thesaurus)