sufficient

[suh-fish-uhnt]

adjective

1. adequate for the purpose; enough.

   sufficient proof;

   sufficient protection.

   Antonyms: inadequate, scant, meager

2. Logic.,  (of a condition) such that its existence leads to the occurrence of a given event or the existence of a given thing.

3. Archaic.,  competent.

sufficient

/ səˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. enough to meet a need or purpose; adequate

2. logic (of a condition) assuring the truth of a statement; requiring but not necessarily required by some other state of affairs Compare necessary

3. archaic,  competent; capable

noun

1. a sufficient quantity

Other Word Forms

• sufficiently adverb
• oversufficient adjective
• oversufficiently adverb
• presufficient adjective
• presufficiently adverb
• quasi-sufficient adjective
• quasi-sufficiently adverb
• supersufficient adjective
• supersufficiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sufficient¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin sufficient-, stem of sufficiēns “supplying,” present participle of sufficere “to supply, suffice,” equivalent to suf- suf- + -ficere, combining form of facere “to do, make”; suffice

Word History and Origins

Origin of sufficient¹

C14: from Latin sufficiens supplying the needs of, from sufficere to _suffice

Example Sentences

Reform's current tally of 31% has never been sufficient to win an election.

From BBC

“If an application lacks sufficient justification, it is returned with comments for clarification.”

From Salon

He said she was at "significant risk" of a penalty because blaming an adviser may not be a sufficient defence.

From BBC

In a report, the NAO said the government had failed to provide sufficient evidence to give the watchdog "confidence" to say if its £850m figure was accurate.

From BBC

Ms Walker says sufficient access to laptops is "fundamental" to the children's education.

From BBC

Related Words

• acceptable 
• ample 
• plentiful 
• satisfactory 
• tolerable