unsufficient

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌʌnsəˈfɪʃənt/ UK /ˌʌnsəˈfɪʃənt/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
not enough or adequate; an archaic form of insufficient

The rations proved unsufficient for so long a journey.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not enough or adequate; an... insufficient inadequate deficient scant lacking wanting

Opposites

sufficient adequate enough ample

Word family

Derived forms unsufficiently

Related forms suffice sufficient insufficient

Etymology

Archaic form of insufficient, from un- ('not') + sufficient, from Latin sufficiens, present participle of sufficere ('to suffice'), from sub- ('under') + facere ('to make').

un- Old English sufficere Latin

View etymology graph ->

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Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

# unsufficient

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˌʌnsəˈfɪʃənt
**IPA (UK):** ˌʌnsəˈfɪʃənt

## Meanings
1. not enough or adequate; an archaic form of insufficient

## Examples
- The rations proved unsufficient for so long a journey.

## Synonyms
- insufficient
- inadequate
- deficient
- scant
- lacking
- wanting

## Antonyms
- sufficient
- adequate
- enough
- ample

## Derived Forms
- unsufficiently

## Related Forms
- suffice
- sufficient
- insufficient

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: un-
- Root: sufficere

## Etymology
Archaic form of insufficient, from un- ('not') + sufficient, from Latin sufficiens, present participle of sufficere ('to suffice'), from sub- ('under') + facere ('to make').

## AI Etymology
Unsufficient is traced through this development: Archaic form of insufficient, from un- ('not') + sufficient, from Latin sufficiens, present participle of sufficere ('to suffice'), from sub- ('under') + facere ('to make'). The prefix supplies the first semantic turn, while the base carries the lexical core of the word. As an adjective, it carries the sense "not enough or adequate; an archaic form of insufficient", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English un- and Latin sufficere. Derivative forms include unsufficiently; related words include suffice, sufficient, insufficient.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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