Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

insufficient

/ɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.77 in modern English

Syllables: in-suf-fi-cient
IPA: /ɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/

20

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

det

An inadequate quantity of; not enough.

det

A quantity (of something) that is less than is needed.

adj

Not sufficient; of a type or kind that does not suffice, that does not satisfy requirements or needs.

adj

Not sufficient; lacking competent power or ability; unqualified, unequal, unfit.

Example Sentences

"Insufficient time is available to reflect on the problem."
"Insufficient of the building remains to determine its age."
"an insufficient amount"
"an insufficient degree"
"It is a necessary condition but an insufficient one."
"Brother Coſroe, I find my ſelfe agreeu’d, Yet inſufficient to expreſſe the ſame: For it requires a great and thundering ſpeech: […]"

Etymology

From Middle French insufficient, from Latin insufficiens. See also in- + sufficient.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: in

Inflected Forms

more insufficient (comparative) most insufficient (superlative)

Derived Forms

diploinsufficient haploinsufficient immunoinsufficient insufficiently

Phrases

principle of insufficient reason

Synonyms

unsufficient deficient lacking

Rhymes With

efficient sufficient self-sufficient inefficient coefficient deficient proficient omniscient beneficent cost-efficient immunodeficient haploinsufficient

Questions

How do you pronounce insufficient?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/.
What does insufficient mean?: An inadequate quantity of; not enough.
Where does insufficient come from?: From Middle French insufficient, from Latin insufficiens. See also in- + sufficient.

How to pronounce insufficient

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “insufficient”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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